Thought this was also a way for the field to become more elite and attract candidates they couldn't attract before. And when that happens, salaries might go up, the profession could get its due respect and attract competitive candidates. Raise the bar so to speak.

What is the average salary for a lawyer employed in the public sector?

If you want to raise the average salary of teachers to the same level as the average salary for lawyers, then yes, by all means, create a bar exam for teachers!

Otherwise, if you "raise the bar" but don't raise teacher salaries... first you will have far fewer teachers available to work and then you will run into staffing problems. UNless you want classroom sies of 60 kids per class, you will need to raise salaries significantly.

Anonymous wrote:I had to take and pass 8 exams (Praxis) between undergrad and grad in order to get state certification.

Tests are not the answer. Book knowledge and the ability to put information down on paper is not the same as the ability to manage and teach a classroom full of kids.

+1

I used to be a teacher (quit to work from home when kids were born) ... There are many requirements in place for public school teachers. The real test is how someone performs in a classroom.

Yup, mature friend in California had a Stanford BA and MBA - still wasn't good enough to teach in CA school so had to go to certification classes in the evening while teaching at a private.

I had to take and pass 8 exams (Praxis) between undergrad and grad in order to get state certification.

Tests are not the answer. Book knowledge and the ability to put information down on paper is not the same as the ability to manage and teach a classroom full of kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323901604578159683838713740.html

To me, the only way that I would agree to an increase in teacher salaries is if they have better standards for certification.
Maybe we could have a subset of teachers within any school system who have passed a high standards test and pay them more.

Arlington pays more based on their degrees.

Yea, but that is not the same as a board or bar exam.

The praxis is a joke. I heard of lots of people failing it, but in all honesty those people have no business teaching kids. I did National board and it is a lot of hoops to jump through and it is very narrowly focused. However, it is a logical and well conceived process.

Anonymous wrote:http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323901604578159683838713740.html

To me, the only way that I would agree to an increase in teacher salaries is if they have better standards for certification.
Maybe we could have a subset of teachers within any school system who have passed a high standards test and pay them more.

Arlington pays more based on their degrees.

Anonymous wrote:Ever heard of the Praxis test? And a lot of states have stringent requirements for teaching to begin with.

yes...

Ever heard of the Praxis test? And a lot of states have stringent requirements for teaching to begin with.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sister-in-law failed Virginia's exam several times and had to go teach in a private school instead.

yup, i hear ya

Anonymous wrote:My sister-in-law failed Virginia's exam several times and had to go teach in a private school instead.

yup, i hear ya

My sister-in-law failed Virginia's exam several times and had to go teach in a private school instead.

Anonymous wrote:http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323901604578159683838713740.html

To me, the only way that I would agree to an increase in teacher salaries is if they have better standards for certification.
Maybe we could have a subset of teachers within any school system who have passed a high standards test and pay them more.

Many states already have this. It's called national certification. (Meaning, any teacher can get national certification, but some states will give teachers a financial incentive for completing it.)

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323901604578159683838713740.html

To me, the only way that I would agree to an increase in teacher salaries is if they have better standards for certification.
Maybe we could have a subset of teachers within any school system who have passed a high standards test and pay them more.