Responding to a message by Matt, to Charles on ...
MS>Such notes are more than an "embarassment"!
MS>An English teacher with poor grammar is no more ready 
MS>to teach your kid grammar than I am to teach you to fly a 
MS>747.
But the point of these tests of teacher certification is that neither 
should the math nor music teacher be a butcher of the English language.
MS>Public schools will lose the middle class if the "image 
MS>problem" you cite continues.  Already, at least two for-
MS>profit private schools exist in Greensboro, and a variety 
MS>of nonprofit private schools are expanding.
The question this gives rise to, of course, is how high are the 
standards set by the private schools for the teachers they hire?  Here 
in NY a 4-year degree is required for public school certification, as is 
a test of basic skills.  A master's is required within five years for 
permanent certification.  I am impressed if the private school's 
standards are equally as high, but many private schools in our area do 
not set standards nearly so high and the lower pay usually does not 
attract the best teachers.
Chuck Beams
Fidonet - 1:2608/70
cbeams@future.dreamscape.com
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* UniQWK #5290* A book worth banning is a book worth reading.
--- Maximus 2.01wb
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