In last night’s debate, there was one McCain remark that made my jaw drop, but I haven’t seen anyone else mention it so far. Towards the end, when the discussion turned to education, here’s what John McCain said, according to the CNN transcript: (emphasis added)
We need to encourage programs such as Teach for America and Troops to Teachers where people, after having served in the military, can go right to teaching and not have to take these examinations which — or have the certification that some are required in some states.
Excuse me?
Now, there were several points last night where McCain didn’t make a whole lot of sense, so it’s hard to know what he actually meant by that statement. But there are a couple of possibilities. Either he doesn’t have a clue what the Troops to Teachers program actually does, or he’s — I dunno, proposing to end it? You see, I did a quick check on the Troops to Teachers program, and it seems like its entire raison d’etre is to help former members of the military gain their teaching certificates. (emphasis added)
Under this program, the Secretary of Education transfers funds to the Department of Defense for the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) to provide assistance, including stipends of up to $5,000, to eligible members of the armed forces so that they can obtain certification or licensing as elementary school teachers, secondary school teachers, or vocational/technical teachers and become highly qualified teachers by demonstrating competency in each of the subjects they teach.
So… that just kind of hurts my brain. McCain wants to encourage more programs like the one that pays for training that he thinks ought to be circumvented? I think that’s what he said.
The larger problem, though, at least for me, is McCain’s dismissive attitude towards teacher certification. Does he think that earning a teaching credential is just some meaningless little bureaucratic exercise? Does he think that actual training is unnecessary; anybody can be a teacher? Because I’m sure that’s a winning attitude that will endear him to dedicated and hardworking teachers everywhere.
And does McCain honestly think that parents who are already concerned about the quality of their children’s education will embrace a proposal to encourage programs that do away with the minimum standards for teacher training?
Sheesh.
