Educators attend public hearings for proposal

Public hearings took place throughout Indiana this week to discuss the teacher-licensing proposal that has been a major concern for both educators and administrators.

More than 1,000 Hoosiers submitted testimonies concerning the proposal either electronically or in person at hearings in Scottsburg, Rochester and Indianapolis, said Cam Savage, director of communications for the Indiana Department of Education.

Representatives from the state department of education were present at each hearing to collect input from concerned citizens; however, a lot of the issues presented had already been discussed by the department.

“Many of the issues presented have already been resolved,” Savage said. “But another big piece were complaints from the schools of education in various forms.”

IU School of Education Dean Gerardo Gonzalez arrived in Indianapolis the morning of the hearing to deliver his testimony at the Indiana State Library, and he said he was not disappointed with the turnout, nor was he discouraged by the testimonies issued.

Everyone who provided testimony was given five minutes to speak. The hearing, which was originally scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., ended closer to 4 p.m.

Gonzalez said there were about 300 people at the hearing.

Many concerns were addressed, but one in particular was stressed by most of the people there.

“My big concern were the comments that were reinforced that these rules would do the opposite of what proponents are saying is needed,” Gonzalez said.

Worries of the speakers at the hearing ranged from the increase in content knowledge, to the deregulation of licensure that would impose an unprecedented level on the curriculums of educators.

“They expressed concern about the rule and process,” Gonzalez said. “They need to slow it down and have more consultation with educators about all of the significant changes. ... They need to be dialogued.”

Those who were not able to attend the public hearings submitted testimonies online expressing their concerns about elements of the proposal.

“We have to be very careful about watering down some of the certification levels for teaching and administration,” said Don Alkire, principal of Martinsville High School, who submitted his testimony online.

Alkire believes one of the core processes to becoming a qualified teacher or administrator lies in the required teaching method courses that are essential to an education degree.

“There are rigorous training programs and certification guidelines that have to do with education training that are very important with what would make up a strong educational teacher,” Alkire said. “Not to say other people can’t be effective school leaders, but they still need areas of background in school administrative methods.”

Conversations expressing concern about the licensing proposal have been going on throughout the state at both the high school and collegiate level.

“I would expect that there would be a lot of conversation at the university level about teachers,” Alkire said. “And rightfully so.”

The hearings showed that this issue extends beyond the realm of the schools of education, and the standards board need to consider the comments made by Hoosiers.

“The spirit of the law is that people effected ... have a chance to comment and those are to be taken seriously,” Gonzalez said. “The standard board will have to take comments seriously and incorporate them into the next revision.”