RM> CB> The question this gives rise to, of course, is how high are the 
RM> CB> standards set by the private schools for the teachers they hire?  
RM> CB> Here in NY a 4-year degree is required for public school 
RM> certification,
RM> 
RM> MS> You're talking _credentials_, not whether the teacher can 
RM> effectively
RM> MS> teach his subject.  
RM> MS>Is the coursework represented by that degree or certification 
RM> really 
RM> MS>necessary to being a good HS industrial-arts or phys-ed teacher, 
RM> or 
RM> MS>for that matter a good elementary-school math teacher?
RM> 
RM> Are you of the opinion that covering coursework in education
RM> is detrimental to being a good teacher?  Or having a degree,
RM> which means a reasonable comfort level with the material one
RM> will teach, is detrimental?
    No.  
    I'm convinced the college degree is _irrelevant_ to whether one can teach 
ES material.  
    Kids are taught complex material (at the same age!) by people who don't 
have a college degree in the subject and maybe not in anything: Scoutmasters, 
merit-badge counselors.  Private-school teachers without certification do 
well enough for their schools to compete successfully with the public 
schools.  Private schools are at least as able to get their graduates 
admitted to college.
RM> it can do no harm, and may, in fact, lead to some improvement 
RM> (even for a "good" teacher)?  This is what professional 
RM> development is all about...
    Lawyers have "continuing legal education", and many lawyers I talk with 
tell me they share my opinion of the requirement as something that doesn't 
make the typical lawyer (as opposed to those specializing in narrow areas) 
any more effective.
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