McCain was DEAD WRONG on two points that I hold near and dear to my heart...

[SKKY]

1. The number of children with Autism has NOT increased. It's simply a matter of better diagnosis that's causing more to fall within "the spectrum".
2. Troops-to-teachers doesn't "wave" the certification part of teaching. That would be irresponsible. You still have to get certified just like
any other teacher.

[MamaDem]

1. Agreed!!! I hate when people spout off about autism when they have no idea of what they speak!

It's a spectrum disorder - very different from Downs and I speak as an informed mom of a child wiht PDD-NOS!!!

[d_r]

16. I agree

I am not sure at all that he knows what autism is.

Also, he said that meme that "you can't improve education by throwing money at it." I presented data this past spring that isn't consistant with that. I compared "blue" and "red" states, based on 2004 election. the blue states had higher test scores, but also higher funding. When funding was controlled, the difference in test scores was no longer significant. I do not know how to start a thread, or if I can, but I wish I could because I think it fits with this issue. There is a summary at:

http://www.utc.edu/Faculty/Darrell-Meece/onestate.pdf

[Riddler]

2. My wife is a career educator and she almost fell off the sofa when McAsshole said that

Why the fuck should the fact that you served in the military qualify you to teach without the same certification career educators have to have? Serving in the military doesn't automatically qualify you for anything and everything, especially teaching.

[Erin Elizabeth]

6. Did you watch the graphs on CNN when he said that?

The women line especially took a HUGE nose dive and I thought "they're teachers and they know what he just said is an utter lie and a horrible idea."

[silverojo]

18. It doesn't qualify you for being President, either. n/t

[Hepburn]

3. Totally agree on the issue of certification.

I was a teacher before I went to law school. In Calif, I had to have beyond my bachelors a 5th year dedicated to education and teaching. No way this should be changed or exceptions made.

JMHO

[SKKY]

5. I'm a veteran who, in 3 and a half years, will enter the teaching field..

....through this very program. Troops-to-teachers simply helps get certified. It doesn't "wave" the certification requirements.

[Erin Elizabeth]

8. So he apparently doesn't even know the program that he

endorses. Great.

[SKKY]

17. No clue.

He got a 2 minute brief on it.

[Erin Elizabeth]

4. THANK YOU ON NUMBER TWO!!!

As someone in education, I can tell you he was horribly wrong on that. Not only does every state have certification exams, and rightly so, but No Child Left Behind has actually made that MORE stringent and on a national scale ("highly qualified teachers").

So he talks about putting "bad teachers" out on the street in one breath and in the next breath, wants to just put anyone in the classroom. WTF????

[SKKY]

11. I will be entering the teaching field in under 4 years...

...when I retire from the Navy. TTT helps service members get certified, but it's still at the mercy of each state with regards to certification. I've only looked t 10-15 potential states where I might like to teach, included DOD school system, and ALL still require certification.

[Erin Elizabeth]

13. As well they should. He's an idiot especially on the subject

of education. And way to go on the teaching choice!

[SKKY]

19. Thank you! While I do think 20 years of military experience gives me a different...

...perspective from most teachers, it in no way qualifies me, in an of itself, to be a teacher nor does it guarantee I'll be particularly successful at it.

[Erin Elizabeth]

23. Are you going to be secondary or elementary?

If secondary, what subject area(s)? I'm certified 6-12 English Language Arts and English as a Second Language.

You have a realistic attitude about it, which will help you a LOT.

[SKKY]

24. Secondary, probably something in the computer field...

...My BS is in Information Systems Management, and my Masters will be in Education Technology. I could also teach Spanish (provided I get certified to do it, but I'm fluent so I don't think it would be a problem).

[vanderBeth]

7. TOTALLY AGREE

1. I have Asperger's and this is an important topic for me. McCain was just blathering about this issue.

2. I want my teachers to have a standards that says they are qualified to be teachers.

[SKKY]

12. And to think that Military service automatically qualifies to enter the class room...

...without any prior training or certification is simply irresponsible.

[d_r]

28. did he actually say that?

would military service count as alternate teaching certification? that seems bizarre.

[SKKY]

29. Yep. Troops can go right into the classroom without taking "all those certification tests."

Kinda hard to believe, huh?

[Sparkly]

9. That was amazing -- "We need quality education" in one breath, and

"We don't need no stinkin' tests for teachers" in the next. :wtf:

[Erin Elizabeth]

14. Exactly!!!! The irony about killed me.

[goodgd_yall]

10. On no. 2-

I knew that had to be wrong. I wonder how many people who heard that think it's true.

[vaberella]

15. He turned austism into an epidemic. McCain basically attacked teachers and education.

As for education, he wants education to be market warfare.

[silverojo]

20. Only two points?

You're a lot more tolerant than I am. I thought the bastard was dead wrong on every word that came out of his putrid-smelling mouth.

:evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin:

[SKKY]

21. Probably, but those were the two that jumped out. It's 3 a.m. here in Spain...

...which is where I'm watching this show from.

[AnnieBW]

22. And BTW

How are those troops going to become teachers without a college education, courtesy of the G.I. Bill? I mean, that's how my Dad became a teacher after his stint in Korea!

[FloridaGrl]

25. Agreed on number two

[Zenmaster]

26. In fact some of the Autism diagnosis are because of our poor system.

They are quick to diagnose Autism in children that really don't have it in some places, simply to get extra funding for underfunded schools.

[SKKY]

27. Yep. Hate to call it like that, but it is true in some cases...