Teachers union calls for national exams for new teachers

ATLANTA - The American Federation of Teachers, the nation's second-largest teachers union, called Friday for national exams for aspiring educators as a way to raise standards.

The proposal was criticized by the profession's largest union, the National Education Association, as a stumbling block to ongoing efforts to improve standards in the midst of a teacher shortage.

Some state organizations of teachers were skeptical as well, but the AFT, with nearly 1 million members, said 220,000 teachers will be replaced each year over the next decade, so the time is right.

''If we enhance teacher education programs and raise requirements for new teachers now, we will be able to make dramatic improvements in the effectiveness of teachers and in student performance for years to come,'' said Sandra Feldman, president of the AFT.

The federation presented the proposal at the annual meeting of the Education Writers Association in Atlanta, recommending rigorous national exams for those entering teacher education programs and those seeking licenses to teach.

Bob Chase, president of the 2.5 million-member NEA, said in a statement that implementing national tests could delay efforts to enforce higher standards being implemented by states.

''What we need to have is all states implementing these tests and to set the bar high for passing them,'' Chase said. ''The development of a new test may delay this progress.''

Joan Earatz-Snowden, a staff member on the AFT committee that worked on the proposal, said state tests are inadequate and a national measuring stick is necessary.

''Applicants to law school have to take the LSAT and medical school students take the MCAT,'' she said. ''All you have to do to get into some teaching programs is survive two years of college.''

The committee also called for requiring a subject major in addition to education coursework, a one-year internship teaching in a classroom and higher grade point averages for prospective teachers.

Most teacher education programs now require a 2.5 grade point average - a C-plus, according to a report issued by the committee. The report suggests raising the requirement first to 2.75 and eventually to 3.0.

Some argue that raising standards in the midst of a nationwide teacher shortage is foolhardy.

''Tougher standards for teachers seems to be very much in vogue right now, and you really can't argue with them,'' said Wayne Johnson, president of the California Teachers Association. ''But at the same time that you want tougher standards you have a growing teachers shortage and teachers' salaries are less competitive.''

What Johnson called a ''schizophrenic system'' of raising standards while the number of teachers dwindles has resulted in California issuing 50,000 emergency teaching credentials in the last two years, he said.

Chase said teacher pay must rise along with standards.

''Teachers are still paid less than professions that require comparable education and skills,'' he said. ''Until this fact is addressed, all attempts to improve the quality of teachers will ring hollow.''