Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy School attempting to transfer their responsibility

Hah! In TX teachers don't even need to have a degree in anything even resembling education. So long as they *have* a degree, and can pass the certification test, they can be a teacher. On the whole, it's good, this way you can attract folks with math degrees, or whatever, to come teach without them feeling like they'll have to take more classes... but the downside is teachers who do not have any thorough training.

I didn't think NM would ever have more strict rules for education than Texas! The teachers here have a special program they can go through that is two years of classes and mentoring while they are teaching if they've been hired with some other degree than an education-related degree.

Okay.. so I was wrong. In TX they also have to do a one year long training program before they take the certification test. So, that's something, right?

We're also in TX and I agree teachers can be hit or miss. We've been very lucky with DD7 but I once had a football coach "teaching" Physics. DD's current 2nd grade teacher was previously a gifted teacher for 12 years.

I'm horrified they said this to you. I can't imagine how I would have reacted in your position.

I had a football coach teaching AP US History. He graded on a curve, and I used to copy the night's homework from a neighbor directly under his nose. So, needless to say, I thought he was something of a flake, the class was too easy, and the AP test was going to be a disaster.

Without any outside, independent study, I scored a 5. It turned out he was casually a very effective teacher.