Another Win for the Kids

New teacher-certification rules from the SUNY Charter Institute are a huge plus for New York schoolchildren. The immediate winners are the 74,000 students at the 167 charter schools regulated by the institute. But once this common-sense reform proves successful, it should spread to cover the regular public schools, too.

Under the draft rules, some would-be teachers wouldn’t have to earn a master’s degree or pass the state certification exam. Instead, you’d need 30 hours of instruction and 100 hours working in-class under the supervision of an experienced teacher, as well to finish state workshops on bullying, violence prevention and child abuse.

This would let schools hire scientists, engineers and other qualified professionals without forcing them to waste time earning education degrees or mastering the arcana essential to passing the state test.

Sadly, most education degrees are practically worthless: Teaching is an art best learned from a master on the job, not a sci- ence to be picked up by studying theory.

Naturally, teacher colleges and education schools are up in arms: This reform would expose their racket. Teachers unions are also furious, because letting outsiders become educators threatens their power, too.

Studies have shown that advanced degrees in education don’t regularly translate to higher achievement for students taught by the newly credentialed: The programs are more about jumping through hoops than acquiring valuable skills or knowledge. (Degrees in the subject you actually teach are a different matter.)

Yes, the state Board of Regents opposes the proposal — but the regents are watering down standards to make it harder to identify failed schools and incompetent teachers.

Time and again, the best charter schools (including many that answer to the Charter Institute) have proved to be laboratories of innovation and success. This reform will give these alternative public schools the chance to do even better for the kids.