Reply to Gross Facts out-weigh Gross fiction regarding teacher education Martin Gross is an adept and skillful writer, which is unfortunate because his writing skills easily enable him to create circular arguments and make inaccurate and misleading statements. The following list highlights some of Gross' grossest misrepresentations, followed by more accurate statistics.
Most teachers enter the profession directly after high school.
They have to complete courses and requirements set by the university and the state. The ETS study to which Gross is referring shows that students actually entering teacher education programs score just as highly on the SAT as do other students. Private schools get better teachers because they do not hire certified teachers. In addition, students must complete the equivalent of a minor in teacher education and then take an independent licensing exam, ultimately requiring more rigorous study than is required of most majors. A summa cum laude graduate of Yale in History could not teach history in a public school.