Teacher Preparation

David Klein discussed some excellent points in his letter of Dec. 7 (“Admissions Standards”). I feel, however, that the problem is much more global. The main problem at the root of poorly prepared students is the preparation of teachers. But blame must be shared by the state and the academic disciplines at the university.

California has recently increased requirements for teacher credentials. This was a major step in the right direction. It does not go far enough, however. No teacher should be allowed in the high school or junior high classroom, emergency or regular credential, without an undergraduate major in his / her field of instruction. . . . California argues that there is a tremendous teacher shortage, so it allows under-prepared teachers into classrooms with emergency credentials. This is sheer lunacy.

The answer to the teacher shortage is to allow only superbly prepared teachers into the classroom, even if it means larger classes. Great teachers are successful in small or large classes. Pay them more! Don’t spread the money to the poorly prepared.

We in the academic disciplines are also to blame for not taking the responsibility to make the undergraduate experience more relevant for pre-elementary school teachers. Colleges of Education and the academic disciplines need to work together to help prepare elementary school teachers. We are beginning to see such collaboration at Cal State Northridge.

STEVEN B. OPPENHEIMER

Director, Center for Cancer and

Developmental Biology

Cal State Northridge