Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion Teachers can't pass certification tests

Teaching programs are indeed incredibly dumbed down.

Sample question from the NC test:


Other questions required subtracting two numbers written in scientific notation, an understanding of the slope of a line (basic algebra 1), a very basic geometry problem, and a probability problem (8th grade level?). I can understand that some people would forget some of this stuff if they hadn't done it in a while, but there's no excuse for not knowing what the slope of a line is when you've known for four years that the test is coming up.

There's also a full practice test. I looked through the questions. They require a decent but not stellar knowledge of algebra I and high school geometry, but nothing beyond that. If people can't pass that test, it's not the test's fault.

Elementary ed. teachers --- really, anyone coming out of a college degree --- should have a good knowledge of basic algebra and geometry.

I honestly wish that the teacher corps would stop making excuses and blaming the test for lack of knowledge. Also, recent college graduates who can't pass a math test set at an 8th - 10th grade level have no right to call themselves "educated."

I know that there are some highly educated and intelligent teachers out there. But there are too few of them, and the problem is not simply teacher pay. They're just as clueless around here, where pay averages $75K+ per year for 8-9 months of work.