Test just a minor part of evaluating teachers

In a May 25 letter entitled "Testing Teachers," a retired teacher questions the possible elimination of the basic skills test for teacher certification in Illinois. The claim is made that a fourth-grader could pass the test. If such is the case, the test is an extremely low bar and would eliminate only those most unsuited for the teaching profession. If the writer's assessment about the presence of unqualified teachers is correct, even passing the test does not assure a person is properly prepared to teach.

The major issue is: how widespread is the problem of unqualified teachers? Are our schools filled with them or are they few in number? If it is the former, we have a massive systemic problem in our education system. If it is the latter, school district administrators can handle the issue by appropriate evaluation of staff.

A subsidiary issue is: how could a person complete a teacher training program at a college or university, obtain a degree and still have not mastered the basic skills measured by the test? If there are many recent graduates of schools of education who cannot pass a basic skills test, an evaluation of teacher training programs may be in order.

The issue of what makes a good teacher is many-faceted. A basic skills test, while helpful, is only a minor part of it.

Marvin L. Johnson

Grayslake