CSU aims to produce better teachers

Academic retreat held Thursday at Long Beach Airport Marriot focuses on undergraduate education

By Suzanne Johnson, On-Line Forty-Niner

Monday, October 26, 1998

The quality of teachers in the classroom is the single most important factor in improving student performance, said California State University Chancellor Charles Reed when citing a recent report.

Strengthening teacher preparation through undergraduate education was the focus of Cal State Long Beach's 14th Annual Academic Retreat held Thursday at the Long Beach Airport Marriot.

In June of 1996, former CSU Chancellor Barry Munitz requested the formation of a president's task force to revise the CSU teacher education system.

The Presidents Commission, consisting of seven CSU presidents under the direction of CSULB President Robert Maxson, was assigned the task of developing ways to improve the quality and quantity of teacher education at all 23 CSU campuses.

In July of 1996, Governor Pete Wilson presented his class size reduction plan for grades K-3. The shortage of teachers the plan would create, along with the high retirement rate of public school teachers, teacher attrition and the growing K-12 population, provided an opportunity to enact significant changes in teacher education throughout the state.

During a July meeting, the CSU Board of Trustees adopted a resolution containing recommendations for improving teacher preparation.

Recommendations included simplifying admissions procedures by next fall, increasing the number of annual recommendations for teaching credentials from 12,000 to 15,000 by July of 2000, developing curriculum that involves students in teacher preparation earlier in their college career and developing common exit standards based on knowledge, skills and abilities of a well-qualified teacher.

The resolution also described programs currently in effect or soon to be implemented, such as transforming teacher aides into teachers and developing year-round operations by offering state- supported programs during the summer.

As outlined in the mission statement of the CSU Presidents Commission on Teacher Preparation and K-18 Education, strategies for improving teacher preparation include:

"There's probably nothing more important for the CSU to do than to focus on improving the public schools of California."

-­ Charles Reed, CSU chancellor

A university wide approach to educating teachers that will affect decisions such as faculty recruitment, promotions and tenure; the integration of subject matter and teacher education course work; providing extensive field-work experience; developing and maintaining partnerships with K-12 schools and community colleges; and regular consultation and collaboration with leaders in K-12 schools and community colleges.

The mission statement says that all CSU presidents have a responsibility to carry out these measures through personnel practices, academic planning, budgeting and public pronouncements.

"There's probably nothing more important for the CSU to do than to focus on improving the public schools of California," Reed said. "Everyone has a shared responsibility in this, including students, parents, and the legislature, but specifically the CSU does."

The CSU system is the largest producer of teachers in California.

With an estimated 250,000 to 300,000 new teachers needed within the next 10 years, a momentous task lies ahead for the entire system.

Approximately 30,000 teachers are currently working via emergency credentials or waivers, according to CSU Stateline.

The commission has stated its belief that the future of California, including social and economic prosperity, will be determined largely by the quality of education offered to citizens.

The commission said it hopes the implementation of the recommended strategies will influence K-12 and post secondary institutions and serve to transform educational practices and affect state education policy.

Certain campuses have voiced concern about retaining the unique character of individual programs that reflect the surrounding communities and respond to specific and diverse needs.

"Along with the quite appropriate emphases on creativity, innovation, entrepreneur ship and the like, there must come a controlling commitment to quality, to excellence, an emphasis which must always come first," Maxson said. "There is no need to send more teachers into our public schools if they can't teach."

Over the last decade, a quiet revolution in teaching has been under way, said Linda Darling-Hammond in her article, "The Right to Learn."

"Teaching is evolving from an occupation that the public has historically considered routine 'women's work' requiring little skill to a profession that enables its members to become as capable as the real demands of the work require," she said.

According to Steve Turley, coordinator of the single subject program, proper training supplies the foundation that leads to professional mastery.