CHANGE MY LOCATION
Law may inhibit student teachers, educators say
SEE HOW THIS STORY DEVELOPED
Related Topics: BALTIMORE
BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Teachers are more resistant to handing their classrooms over to student teachers since the No Child Left Behind Act took effect, potentially leading to future teachers
being less prepared, educators said.
If schools do not meet adequate yearly progress — rising state standards required by the law — they may be offered free tutoring and academic help. But continued failure to reach the benchmarks results in a replacement of school staff, and some say such consequences cause teachers to think twice about entrusting their classes to college students who are trying to gain classroom experience.
“Teachers are very hesitant to have student teachers because they want to make sure they have full control of their classrooms, and they may look at that as a detriment,” said Donna Wiseman, dean of the education school at the University of Maryland, College Park, which produces about 400 teachers each year.
“I think there is a great deal of stress on teachers in terms of their students’ yearly performance.”
This year, 11 schools in Baltimore City and three in Baltimore County were among 39 in Maryland that forced all staff members to reapply for their jobs because they repeatedly failed to meet achievement standards.
The University of Maryland, College Park, has a close relationship with many schools in the College Park area.
To graduate, education majors are required to spend semesters teaching and observing classes.
A “handful” of schools have stopped allowing student teachers into their classrooms since No Child Left Behind has been in effect, Wiseman said. She declined to name the schools.
“We have noticed a difference from the university perspective in the past five years,” Wiseman said. “I won’t tell you it’s a terrible situation, but we are seeing some hesitancy.”
Audrey Goldberg, a rising senior majoring in education at U. Md., spent the past year observing classes at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt and saw firsthand how adequate yearly progress standards weigh on teachers’ and students’ minds.
“There are some really creative teachers who come up with some really great lesson plans,” said Goldberg, 21. “But at the end of the day, it’s always, ‘Remember, guys, we have a benchmark on Friday, so come prepared.’ ”
“You have to do well on those benchmarks,” she said. “If you don’t, it doesn’t matter how good you are because you’ll be out of a job.”
msilvestri@baltimoreexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
12:33 PM MST on Thu., Jul. 24, 2008 re: "Law may inhibit student teachers, educators say"
Report as inappropriate
11:28 AM MST on Tue., Jul. 15, 2008
re: "Maryland wins greater flexibility under No Child Left Behind"
Report as inappropriate
10:59 AM MST on Wed., Jul. 2, 2008
re: "Maryland wins greater flexibility under No Child Left Behind"
Report as inappropriate
10:49 AM MST on Wed., Jul. 2, 2008
re: "Maryland wins greater flexibility under No Child Left Behind"
Report as inappropriate
9:00 PM MST on Tue., Jun. 24, 2008
re: "Ocean City Elementary only school in state leaving no child behind"
Report as inappropriate
6:08 PM MST on Tue., Jun. 24, 2008
re: "Ocean City Elementary only school in state leaving no child behind"
Report as inappropriate
9:40 AM MST on Tue., Jun. 24, 2008
re: "Ocean City Elementary only school in state leaving no child behind"
Report as inappropriate
7:20 AM MST on Tue., Jun. 24, 2008
re: "Ocean City Elementary only school in state leaving no child behind"
Report as inappropriate
7:04 AM MST on Tue., Jun. 24, 2008
re: "Ocean City Elementary only school in state leaving no child behind"
Report as inappropriate
9:48 AM MST on Fri., May. 23, 2008
re: "Most kids not taking federal tests are poor, labeled as special needs"
Report as inappropriate
Examiner Reader said:
11:28 reader= you need to read your own post and see you yourself need the basics. So many misspelled words it is a shame you even left that comment.
4 agree | 2 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
it is like now grasmick is patting herself on the back because test schores are up in reading and math. however, ask a child were iraq is and chances are they cannot give the correct location. Better yet ask them about american history and they will be unable to answer the basics. No one this state has government as it's hsa because they can indoctrinate the students tyo vote democratic. maryland the land of coruption. just so grasmick understands it is not that the scores are getting better it is tyhat the districts now are teaching to the test. the hell with everything else. as long as the msa and hsa are pasted. besides in the english hsa grammar and spelling plus punctuation does not count. heck i would be alble to pass that test.
5 agree | 4 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
What does absenteeism have do with no child left behind. How many rich kids with two parent household do not go to school. Just to hit the parents liquor cabinets. The problem is the schools do not receive enogh funds for books. When was the last time does anyone remember children carry books. You have a school in Anne Arundel county/ Pasadena area where the homes cost $450,000 plus and the kids cant not read. You have parents go to the school ask Question and have their children tested to told everything is okay. Then move Baltimore co. where basically they have fix the issue from the school. Baltimore County right now and there are not many that put the kids first. And remember you never no why and child was not in school so do assume.
5 agree | 5 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
This is just a way the Government can get away with not applying proper funds for the schools. When can't help the schools but the Government can spend billions per month for a war. These are the kid s that will take care of the world when we no longer can. Who are coming out of school and can not read the television guide.
5 agree | 5 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
kid bro sweets said:
perhaps the misinformed soul that said "geez...look at the kids in the picture" should do a little homework themselves. many of the students at that school are actually free and reduced meal students. sounds to me like you are judging the book by the cover and not by the facts.
5 agree | 4 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
who's this silvestri guy? stay on the schools. if they fail, rome burns.
5 agree | 4 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Johnny Apple seed said:
When our teachers smile, open doors, use complete sentences and stay out of politics and gossip the test scores will increase. It's not just a job it's a moral obligation. Our teachers want raises and do nothing special but uproar. What a joke. Give teachers a cookie to teach proper manners and humanity before you give the degree's out.
4 agree | 5 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
"It's nothing fancy" is right. A School system like Howard, in which the superintendent gets a 12% raise then needs tens of millions of dollars to build or renovate schools that look like shopping malls, doesn't improve education. Stick to the basics... keep kids, teachers, and parents motivated and see how the scores are then.
7 agree | 5 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Fed up!!!! said:
Gee, I wonder why they are able to meet standards? Could it be because the students all look they do in the picture?
6 agree | 7 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
In my experience absenteeism is higher all year round for students who are poor and/or special needs, and it has much less to do with "subtle encouragement not to participate" than with single parents who aren't home to roust their kids out of bed, or who need their kids to stay home with a sick sibling, or who suffer a higher incidence of physical conditions or illnesses that are comorbid with their disabilities. I would like to see a study that looks at whether absenteeism is higher among these populations during testing than over the course of the school year.
9 agree | 8 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree