NJ Teachers Union only wants kids, not teachers, to take exams

The New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) wants to ditch the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators: Reading, Writing and Math. It tests teachers' skills in these areas and by golly, it's hard if you don't study for it.

 New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy’s signed Bill S1553 that would eliminate that requirement and allow even not so bright, low skilled teachers to teach New Jersey children who were already handicapped by the Covid pandemic.

 NJEA called the test “an unnecessary barrier” hindering the alleviation of teacher shortages. Thankfully, airlines are still requiring pilots to pass aviation exams and heart surgeons must qualify regularly in their specialty as well.

“When the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) adopted changes to the administrative code around teacher certification, it missed an opportunity to eliminate this requirement, which created an unnecessary barrier to entering the profession,” stated NJEA.

Sure; why should teachers be required to pass exams in the subject(s) they teach? They're just kids and don't know better.

Passing scores for the basic skills test are 156 for reading, 150 for math, and 162 for writing. The maximum possible score is 200.

Nicki Neily, founder and president of Parents Defending Education, said that there were better options for overcoming the teacher shortage other than reducing entry standards.

“Teachers should be able to pass a basic skills test before they’re tasked with educating children in those core subjects,” said Neily.

You can eliminate some of the unnecessary red tape around becoming a teacher without eliminating a basic skills test, like getting rid of a criminal record of child abuse or domestic violence, DUIs, and other basic felonies. 

They're just kids--what do they know?

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