Chris Teeters
November 3, 2009
Professor Gust
REPA
Since the state of Indiana received a C as an average score when all of the states were evaluated in the education of its students, there has been a movement to improve Indiana’s education. If the state would improve enough the state would receive a grant, which is known as the race for the top. Since the deadline is coming closer the comity in charge of the improvement has made a quick list of idea that they believe that would benefit the state of Indiana. They also decided to have the teachers of the state of Indiana to have a chance to have their voices heard in three discussion sessions.
One of the many complaints was that REPA that teachers would have to take a test every five to ten years so that they could renew their licenses. If a teacher has been working for years why should he or she take a test to prove that they can educate their students? If a teacher is able to connect with his or her students but does not do well on the test he or she may lose his or her job, while a teacher who does not belong in the classroom passes the test is allowed to continue to teach even though he or she should not be. I believe that a teacher can not be properly evaluated by a single test, but by the way he or she controls the classroom and if he or she can teach the students.
Another complaint that was raised was that people who did not major in education would be able to teach if he or she passes the praxis test. The reasoning behind this was that they wanted more teachers who were well educated in their content area. One of the many people who complaint about this part of REPA was a lawyer, he told the board the he was well educated in his content area, and even taught the subject in a classroom a few times. He argued that no matter how well one thinks that he or she knows their content area he or she will not be prepared to teach it in the classroom. It is a one thing to be a guest speaker in the classroom and a whole other world to be the teacher of that class. Teachers not only teach the material, but also interact with the students, which is something that someone who did not major in education in college would be able to do. Education majors are trained to know how to interact with the students and are aware of the stages of development that their students go through. Education majors also take more of courses in their content area than what other majors do. How is it that those who are not education majors would now more than someone who did major in education?
This public discussion allowed teachers to state their opinion on REPA, but I feel as though it was not enough. I believe that there should have been some answers for at least a few of the questions and statements that were presented. Teachers were able to give their input, but they were not given an answer why these changes needed to be made. I agree that some changes needed to be made, but I believe that REPA is not the answer. When we had a chance to ask someone on the board what will happen those of us that are sophomores in college. Unfortunately we were not given a direct answer. It seems as thought the decision was rushed and the thought process was not thought out. They seem to be too concerned about getting the grants that they are overlooking all of the mistakes that they are making. I only hope that they will take all of the speaker’s statements and take them to heart.
It was a privilege to go to the conference and be able to see how REPA is affecting others. It seems as though that all the teachers in Indiana are banding together to make sure that they are represented. The idea of improving the Indiana education systemis a good thing, but REPA is not the answer. REPA has too many problems that are not addressed and changes that should not be made.