Better Teachers, Better Schools

Whenever test results--like those released earlier this month by the Third International Math and Science Survey--show American students lagging far behind their counterparts abroad, critics blast away at public school standards and teaching. So when a solution, especially a national solution, comes along, it is just as important to raise an encouraging noise. Today’s cheer goes to Rep. George Miller (D-Martinez), whose amendment to improve math and science teacher training and recruitment will be heard Wednesday when the House of Representatives meets to revise the Higher Education Act.

As Brookings Institution scholar Diane Ravitch rightly observes, “Today in some states it may be harder to be graduated from high school than to become a certified teacher. Something is wrong with this picture.”

One thing that’s wrong is that the Higher Education Act currently lets hundreds of millions of federal dollars pour into education schools accredited only on the basis of often-minimal state standards. Miller’s amendment calls for tougher national standards, which schools would have to meet to qualify for the federal money.

Another problem is that too many teachers lack a college major or minor in the field in which they teach, including 39.5% of science teachers and 55% of history teachers. Miller’s amendment would attract students in a wider variety of majors to teaching by forgiving up to $30,000 in student loans for college graduates who sign up to serve in “high need” schools.

A final problem is the failure of most teacher training programs to offer internships like those in medicine, giving new graduates hands-on experience under close supervision. Most would-be teachers do their classroom study and, before their diplomas have uncurled, are thrown into the classroom to sink or swim. This hardly encourages excellence.

Miller’s amendment calls for closer partnerships between education colleges and public schools, but House leaders should adopt language from a bill by Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) to award $100 million in federal grants for teaching internships.

Better academic standards depend in large part on better teaching and teacher recruitment. Good for the lawmakers like Miller and Reed who are suggesting such modest, workable improvements.