(Columbia) -- Governor David M. Beasley today continued his push for higher standards and accountability in education, urging the state Board of Education to quickly approve tougher requirements for incoming teachers.
The Governor also reiterated his call to raise the bar for all teachers, a key part of his nine-point education plan unveiled last month. “We know we can’t make the dramatic strides we need without high academic standards and the very best teachers in every classroom,” the Governor said.
Governor Beasley has proposed allowing principals to require struggling teachers to take a basic knowledge exam, and submit to a three-year development plan if the teachers score below average. Governor Beasley believes teachers who cannot meet standards after that should be removed from the classroom.
The Governor also wants teachers to volunteer to take the exam. Those who can meet the national average score would get a pay raise to the national average salary – an increase of about $6,000.
Unfortunately, some who want to preserve the status quo in education are drumming up opposition to higher standards.
“Spending more and paying more in education are only two-thirds of the equation. Those who are afraid of higher standards are happiest when we ignore the last third of that equation – higher standards and more accountability for every player in the education process,” Governor Beasley said. “We cannot continue to reward mediocrity. You only encourage more of the same. And the same isn’t good enough.”
The state Board of Education is working on a plan to require incoming teachers to score at the 50th percentile on an exam known as the PRAXIS II. The current standard is only 5 percent.
The Governor praised the board and Superintendent Barbara Nielsen for their efforts. “We can’t really improve all our schools if we promote new teachers who score worse than 95 percent of their peers!” the Governor said.
Governor Beasley pledged to work with the board, with teacher groups seriously interested in improving standards, with legislators and business leaders to improve the quality of teaching in South Carolina.
Remarks By Governor David M. Beasley
State Board of Education Public Hearing: Teacher Standards
October 13, 1998
Note: The Governor sometimes deviates from text.
I'm here today to deliver a message that needs to be heard. Thanks to you … and thanks to the growing support of people all over this state … this message is being heard.
But we must speak clearly and with strong conviction.
In teaching, South Carolina must set higher standards.
That's how we can pay more to thousands of great teachers… help the teachers who need it… and empower principals to get rid of the few bad teachers.
We expect more from students and more from principals. Doesn't it make sense for us to raise standards for teachers, too?
I commend you, because your efforts go a long way toward South Carolina having high standards in education and a sound accountability system.
As you know, I've announced a comprehensive plan to review teacher standards. It's based on rewarding excellence, assisting struggling teachers and getting the few incompetent teachers out of the classroom.
Raising the bar for new teachers gets to the heart of my plan…We know we can't make the dramatic strides we need without high academic standards and the very best teachers in every classroom. The two go hand-in-hand.
So who's fighting us on this? It's certainly not the vast majority of teachers out there doing their dead level best day in and day out. They're the ones making a positive impact on children's lives.
No, the ones fighting us are the ones who always fight us: the small but powerful special interest groups… the ones that seem always to stand in the way of meaningful reform.
They've never supported our efforts…and that's because raising the bar and holding teachers accountable doesn't help them maintain their power.
You see, their power comes from their control over the education debate. Spending more and paying more in education are only two-thirds of the equation.
Those who are afraid of higher standards are happiest when we ignore the last third of that equation– higher standards and more accountability for every player in the education process.
We cannot continue to reward mediocrity. You only encourage more of the same. And the same isn't good enough.
A few organizations have twisted my words about excellence and standards into an attack on teachers. Let me set them straight.
We are not attacking teachers. The vast majority of our educators are well trained, hard working and devoted to our children. And under our plan, we're going to pay those teachers well for the job they do.
What we are attacking is the willful acceptance of low standards.
We don't want to point fingers at anybody. Instead, everyone should be more like this Board and zero in on real problems and workable solutions.
I'm here to praise the actions of this board for striving for higher standards.
And I want to urge you to be diligent in your pursuit of academic excellence for every school across this great state.
As you work with teachers, Dr. Nielsen and the Department of Education, be fair…but never lower your expectations.
If our reforms have any chance to work, we simply must address this issue of teacher standards and quality…and we must address it soon.
We can't really improve all our schools if we promote new teachers who score worse than 95 percent of their peers!
If we're willing to accept that dubious accomplishment as our standard, I have to assume that we really don't think teachers are all that important…and neither are the children who learn from them.
I know that nobody in this room believes that. We all care deeply about teachers and children and our future. Now it's time to prove it.
So I pledge to you today that I will work with you…with teacher groups who sincerely want to improve our schools…with the legislature and the business community…to make sure that every child has the top-notch teacher he or she deserves.
These past two years, we've raised teacher pay above the Southeastern
average for the first time ever.
We're reducing class size and setting back-to-basic standards for
students.
Now your vote to raise the bar for new teachers will be the next critical step forward.
You have the chance to strengthen the link that leads to lasting, long-term reform.
So I urge you, the board, to give higher standards your final approval in the very near future.