Teachers in Oklahoma are more qualified, their first year, than George W. Bush was after his 3rd year in the White House, and I think you would agree. Over the years in the education business, I've seen lots of new teachers. Today, teachers in Oklahoma are more qualified to walk straight into the classroom and are more qualified than Bush and his roll as a second term president. In fact, after Bush's first, untenured year, as president, he would have been required to choose a different profession. Something along the line of, ... maybe a prison guard? Bush wouldn't have qualified, as well, because of his grade-point average.
In fact, Oklahoma has teacher programs that will, "Guarantee" that a teacher can walk right into class and be "lights-out" successful. By far, new teachers from Oklahoma are more qualified for their chosen profession than Bush was, after being governor of Texas.
To qualify to be a teacher in Oklahoma, a student in the first year needs to identify themselves as a candidate for teacher certification. Thus, even during their first year in the program, you can find those teacher-candidates observing in a classroom. When I went to school, it was a 4 year program, though I chose to go with a 5 year program, or, .. my institution decided I needed an extra year. Now, every teacher has a rigorous, 5-year program, before they can ever hit the classroom.
What can I say? Mac Brown, the coach for the University of Texas' football program, had more influential experience toward a presidential job, than Bush did. On Bush's resume, would be the huge responsibility of thumbing up or down, residential members of those on death row, and he shined at that job. That, after all, is how he got his Texas Ranger Badge, so he could put up "Wanted, Dead or Alive" signs.
Unfortunately, his experience as the grim-reaper in Texas has lead him into an unfavorable presidency, who takes the grim reaper roll seriously, ... especially internationally, with no remorse from the death of his own soldiers or collateral damage, which includes women, children, babies in and out of the womb, and old people on welfare. In Texas, that skill lead to the memorial sound-bytes, "Bring 'em on!" and "Wanted, Dead or Alive!" Bush's goal in life is to be seen as a modern day General George Custer.
I was astounded how a new music teacher came right into her classroom and took charge. She took charge in the cafeteria and even on the play-ground. No complaints. She didn't even ask questions. No timidity. Absolutely no discipline problems. But, you see, this teacher came from Oklahoma's Teacher Certification Process, which Dubya Bush and Bobby Knight would have never completed. So, how can we describe Oklahoma's teacher certification process.
First and foremost, the outgoing teacher assessment is not based on grades only. A partial description is "an exemplary system for the approval and accreditation of teacher education institutions and programs. This new approach emphasizes performance-based criteria and assessments, focusing on what candidates can do in the classroom."
9/11 would, possibly never have happened if Bush had to conference with members of the outgoing staff for 6 months. Heck, they didn't even have a meeting about terrorism, the first 8 months of Bush's presidency, and now they are trying to blame it Clinton, who just "slam-dunked" the Fox hounds. The only time they gathered to discuss terror was AFTER 9/11, and their regime had been warned about ben Laden.
The final evaluation goes beyond a teacher test, which we have, but also from a "portfolio" of sources, both from the student's practice teaching observations and the student's professor. Once the students have fat portfolios, which assures that they are ready to walk into the classroom, then and only then, do the future teachers have to pass their certification test.
Lucky for our kids, Bush and his cronies are not eligible to teach in our classrooms. Physically threatening or torturing students would get their certification permanently withdrawn and let them spend a goodly amount of time in prison. Using cluster bombs, which are considered "Custer Bombs," is considered child abuse, in my books. They would serve their time, and then have to register, where ever they lived, as a "child torturer." But Cheney and Bush, during their stay, would be working toward redefining the state's approved guidelines; and the government poseurs would be trying to circumvent the program guide-lines or ignore them completely.
Blow the whistle and send them back to the end of the line!
Dale Hill
Anadarko, OK 73005
