Legislature(1997 - 1998)
04/25/1997 03:40 PM House HES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HB 213 - REQUIREMENTS FOR TEACHER CERTIFICATION Number 1530 CHAIRMAN BUNDE announced the next item on the agenda was HB 213, "An Act relating to teacher certification." Number 1555 THOMAS VanBROCKLIN, Legislative Assistant to Representative Kubina, stated that Representative Kubina would arrive shortly. Number 1584 REPRESENTATIVE GENE KUBINA, Sponsor of HB 213, referred to the early retirement bill which passed last year allowing many teachers to retire early. He mentioned a Fairbanks news article about their school district authorizing their administration to put together a recruitment team to look for teachers in the Lower 48. He was bothered by this because there are roughly a thousand people on the teacher placement list at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks (UAF). He sought information on this subject. One person, a supporter of the university system, told him that UAF doesn't put out good teachers. No one wants to hire those teachers. REPRESENTATIVE KUBINA explained that HB 213 is similar to a system that he went through in California. A person has to get a degree in something other than teaching, then they apply to the university's department of education. Once accepted, the student would do a year consisting of two semesters of methods classes and student teaching. The student teaching would consist of one semester in one school under one master teacher and the second semester in another school under another master teacher. He stated that he learned more while student teaching than he did from methods classes. You really learn to be a teacher by teaching. Number 1738 REPRESENTATIVE KUBINA felt that the state needed to demand more of students getting a teaching degree through the state university system and it should be done early. He stated that this process would take an extra year for those just wanting to become teachers. For people with a degree, who then decide they want to teach, they would only need nine months. He felt it might help people who have worked through a career, have degrees and want to come into the system for a short, but intense period of time. He didn't think that it was right to have people graduating from university, certified to teach school, that aren't wanted. Number 1811 CHAIRMAN BUNDE commented that he got a teaching degree in a state where they required a fifth year, within the first few years of teaching. He asked what area of specialization or degree would a potential teacher get in order to teach elementary education. Number 1837 REPRESENTATIVE KUBINA said that elementary teachers instruct every subject, but usually at a lower level. A person should have a degree in a basic subject area; whether it is math, science or something else. He stated that his degree was in social sciences with an emphasis in economics. When potential teachers took their methods classes, they would be focusing on elementary school education including reading or math. He felt the type of degree should not be restricted. Number 1880 CHAIRMAN BUNDE asked if HB 213 would require the same amount of methods classes as is found in the current system. Number 1896 REPRESENTATIVE KUBINA was not sure how many methods hours are currently required. Number 1899 CHAIRMAN BUNDE mentioned the difficulty of placing student teachers. He commented that it was interesting that no one from the university was here. Number 1905 REPRESENTATIVE KUBINA said he has had discussions with various university staff from the different universities. He said the universities have different requirements for teaching degrees. The Southeast program is well on the way to becoming something closer to what HB 213 would propose. The university staff wanted him to postpone hearing this bill for a week in order to prepare comments. He wanted to present it to the committee in order to get comments on the bill. Number 1961 REPRESENTATIVE GREEN asked if the required degree would have something at least associated with what you would ultimately be teaching. Number 2019 REPRESENTATIVE KUBINA answered that Alaska does not statutorily require that a teacher teach in their field, possibly because of the size of schools. He cited a personal example where he taught outside his area of specialty which is sixth grade. He felt that beginning in junior high, the state should tighten this leniency so that people are teaching in their fields of instruction. He stated that special education programs require a masters degree with specialties. Number 2058 CHAIRMAN BUNDE reminded the committee that the House passed a teacher competency test, requiring basic teacher competencies. He stated that if the local school board chooses to have them teach a subject outside their area of expertise, then this was an issue of local control. Number 2074 REPRESENTATIVE KUBINA felt there should be testing before these potential teachers entered the programs. Number 2092 CHAIRMAN BUNDE pointed out that, at least at the University of Alaska-Anchorage, there are some entrance requirements. Number 2104 REPRESENTATIVE PORTER asked what classes now constitute an education degree which would not be given under a one year methods course. Number 2160 DIANE CRONK, student, testified next via teleconference from Northway. To become an elementary school teacher she has to take an introduction to education, child psychology, a class for special learners, two classes in math for elementary school teachers, diagnosis and evaluation of learning, communication and cross cultural classrooms, literature for children, art education, teaching physical education and electives such as philosophy of education. She felt HB 213 was okay for high school teachers, but it was not appropriate for elementary school teachers. As a parent she would want the best teachers for her children, not necessarily teachers from Alaska. MS. CRONK referred to the rural Alaskan program to encourage rural Alaskans to get a teaching degree to return to their rural areas and teach. She said they would not be able to get a degree in anything except for rural development and education. Number 2227 NANCY BUELL, Ed. D., Director, Teaching and Learning Support, Department of Education, said her division includes teacher certification. On behalf of the department, they support any attempt to raise teaching standards. The commissioner has stated in the past months that they have been working to raise teaching standards in Alaska. This piece of legislation represents one kind of bill for doing that. Number 2262 DAVID REAUME, Member, Juneau School Board, explained that he was not necessarily speaking on behalf of the school board. He supported the theme behind HB 213. He felt the first thing that a degree in a subject grants to a system is teachers with higher academic qualities. He referred to a table listing various undergraduates and their degrees, ethnicity and their scores on the graduate record examination (GRE). People with teaching degrees scored last, probably because they aren't well trained in the types of things tested by the GRE. TAPE 97-34, SIDE B Number 0000 MR. REAUME felt that the type of student who goes into the field and the training were involved in the GRE results. The scores could be lower because the subject material isn't really being studied and possibly because the individuals entering the field may not have as high an aptitude as others. Lower Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) results are also found in those who go on to receive teaching degrees. Number 0246 MR. REAUME stated the second advantage of HB 213 would be to raise overall standards. People who know a lot about a subject demand more of their students than people who don't know very much about it. A third thing which would happen is that teachers, who are more knowledgeable in their subject, are better able to assist their students to learn. If teachers cannot clarify the ambiguities of textbooks, if their knowledge is such that they are dependent on the textbook then there are serious problems in the classroom. Students become reluctant to ask questions because they are perceived as challenging the teacher. MR. REAUME explained that HB 213 would dramatically change the culture in the schools. He has observed that at the University of Alaska and the school system in Juneau, there are two hallmarks of people who come out of education schools with a principle degree in education. One of these hallmarks is a tendency to argue from authority and the second is to use theory without bothering to see what the empirical results are. Number 0410 MR. REAUME stated that United States students do poorly on international exams. Students in Juneau, Anchorage and Fairbanks score slightly above the national average on the California Achievement Test (CAT) and the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills. Students are roughly at the national average, but the national average isn't so hot internationally. At a minimum level, a well educated person should be able to do well on a standardized test. MR. REAUME said studies have endorsed the concept that a teacher must be well trained in a subject if they are going to teach the subject well. He mentioned the varying meanings of the word subject. Some feel that a science degree is a subject without an emphasis in a particular area of science such as physics. Number 0658 MR. REAUME said 63 percent of high school math classes are taught by individuals who did not have a minor in the field. The vast majority of the classes are being taught in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Kenai and Ketchikan. As of 1991, Alaska did not value having people in our high school classes who were trained in the subject they were teaching. Number 0771 REPRESENTATIVE PORTER asked if this accounted for those who might have received an endorsement based on the credits they took subsequent to their graduation. Number 0786 MR. REAUME answered that if they received credits, then he assumed that it would have been covered. REPRESENTATIVE PORTER stated that it would not have been reflected by their minor in college. Number 0793 MR. REAUME clarified that whatever definition considered was used in every single state. Unless Alaska is peculiar in having many more people picking up credits after they enter teaching, then it should not change the fact that we are last in the nation. Number 0841 REPRESENTATIVE DYSON stated that he has heard frequent comments that the methods course, while valuable, are amongst the most boring and poorly taught. There is consistent grade inflation, particularly among the soft sciences and arts, that begins to destroy the goal of excellence. Number 0920 MR. REAUME stated that grade inflation is part of what goes on when individuals in the classrooms are not terribly well trained in the subject they are teaching. This situation is also the product of other aspects of educational objectives. Emphasis is placed in our school system to help out the worst students. Teachers pass students who are not ready to pass. The Juneau School District policy is to flunk no one, no matter how badly they do unless there is some special request from the parents and the school people agree to it. This is called social promotion. Number 0970 MR. REAUME explained that current research suggests that the United States does not hire the best teachers, if best teachers are defined by their accomplishment in college and the quality of the school they attended. He felt that we must change the culture in the schools and change the things that are looked for when teachers are hired. He strongly endorsed the sentiment behind HB 213. Number 1046 REPRESENTATIVE PORTER asked if he would apply this philosophy to kindergarten through twelfth grade or just to high school. Number 1050 MR. REAUME felt the HB 213 concept was correct for high school. Changing the requirement to a minor in a subject would make a lot of sense for teachers in the sixth through eighth grade level. The elementary level is an area where he would do the least amount of tinkering. Number 1087 CHAIRMAN BUNDE commented that the elementary level has the greatest impact on future learners. Number 1099 REPRESENTATIVE GREEN cited a personal experience where a teacher's enthusiasm made him learn a subject that was personally difficult. MR. REAUME responded that you can't get excited about a subject unless you really know your subject well. CHAIRMAN BUNDE stated that this is the first time this bill was heard and it will be held for further testimony.
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