Teacher Rap Stumps School Administrators Some Say Commission’s Critique Of Regional Educators’ Training Was Based On Self-Serving Standards

Washington and Idaho school officials say they’re hard pressed to meet standards outlined in a report that insists teachers are inadequately trained.

The National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future cites several studies that show teacher expertise matters more than almost any other factor, including class size, in determining student achievement.

Idaho meets only two of a dozen quality standards set by the commission. Washington and Oregon meet three.

Idaho has a relatively high number of teachers assigned to subjects outside their major fields. For example, 34 percent of Idaho mathematics teachers did not even minor in math in college. The situation was even worse in Washington at 51 percent, nearly double the nation’s 27 percent average.

“We are not comfortable with it,” said Roger Hanshew, Idaho’s teacher certification supervisor. The department encourages districts to allow teacher misassignments only after other attempts to fill the position with a certified teacher have failed, Hanshew said.

“Isolation is a factor here,” he said. “As is the lower pay scale.”

Pat Eirish, manager of research and assistance at the Washington State Board of Education, was skeptical of the commission’s findings.

“I don’t think it’s as big of a problem as some studies are reporting,” Eirish said. “Local school districts are placing - in good faith - the best possible candidates they can for the kids.”

Robin Nettinga, President of the Idaho Education Association, pointed out that Idaho received accolades in the report for its mentoring program and teacher training. But with charter schools taking the forefront this year, it’s even more crucial that Idaho ensures quality teachers in the classroom, Nettinga said.

“The report itself tells us we need to continue to maintain high standards and we can’t make the assumption that anyone can teach,” Nettinga said.

In physical science, only 22 percent of Washington and Idaho teachers had full state certification and a major in the field, compared to 35 percent nationally.

During 1996-97, 85 percent of Idaho school districts requested permission to have teachers handle subjects outside their area of expertise, according to the Idaho Department of Education.

Statewide, there were 265 educators teaching outside their fields, compared to 220 the year before. The overwhelming majority of those teachers were misassigned to teach science.

Idaho’s percentage of teachers with alternative certification also shot up in 1996-97. Those teachers already certified in one area but teaching and working toward certification in another went from 59 teachers to 85 in 1996-97.

The National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future report strongly suggests that unprepared teachers are holding students back.

The 26-member commission was set up by the Rockefeller Foundation and Carnegie Corporation of New York. Members include Democratic Gov. James Hunt of North Carolina and Republican Gov. Jim Edgar of Illinois, the presidents of the two national teachers’ unions and other teachers and education professors.

The commission has been criticized by some for creating what they called self-serving standards aimed at limiting access to the profession.

, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: BYLINE = Andrea Vogt Staff writer The Associated Press contributed to this report.