The Columbia Tribune – Esther Cepeda
“As sure as Earth rotates around the sun, college professors condemn high schools for freshmen who can’t write decent papers, high school teachers blame middle schools for passing barely literate students along, and middle school teachers tsk-tsk elementary school teachers for kids who aren’t comfortable with the basics of writing and arithmetic. Elementary school teachers would be forgiven for blaming their teacher preparation programs for not adequately equipping them to lay the foundations of academic achievement for their young charges. According to the latest National Council on Teacher Quality rating of 875 of the nation’s undergraduate programs that prepare elementary school teachers, only 5 percent require candidates to take sufficient courses in literature, science and history/social studies.”(more)