[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 64 (Wednesday, May 5, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E858-E859]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  OPPOSING NATIONAL TEACHER CERTIFICATION OR NATIONAL TEACHER TESTING

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON PAUL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 5, 1999

  Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce legislation to forbid the 
use of federal funds to develop or implement a national system of 
teacher certification or a national teacher test. My bill also forbids 
the Department of Education from denying funds to any state or local 
education agency because that state or local educational agency has 
refused to adopt a federally-approved method of teacher certification 
or testing. This legislation in no way interferes with a state's 
ability to use federal funds to support their chosen method of teacher 
certification or testing.
  Having failed to implement a national curriculum through the front 
door with national student testing (thanks to the efforts of members of 
the Education Committee under the leadership of Chairman Goodling), the 
administration is now trying to implement a national curriculum through 
the backdoor with national teacher testing and certification. National 
teacher certification will allow the federal government to determine 
what would-be teachers need to know in order to practice their chosen 
profession. Teacher education will revolve around preparing teachers to 
pass the national test or to receive a national certificate. New 
teachers will then base their lesson plans on what they needed to know 
in order to receive their Education Department-approved teaching 
certificate. Therefore, I call on those of my colleagues who oppose a 
national curriculum to join me in opposing national teacher testing and 
certification with the same vigor with which you opposed national 
student testing.
  Many educators are already voicing opposition to national teacher 
cerification and testing. The Coalition of Independent Education 
Associations (CIEA), which represents the majority of the over 300,000 
teachers who are members of independent educators associations, has 
passed a resolution opposing the nationalization of teacher 
certification and testing; I have attached a copy of this resolution 
for insertion into the Congressional Record. As more and more teachers 
realize the impact of this proposal, I expect opposition from the 
education community to grow. Teachers want to be treated as 
professionals, not as minions of the federal government.
  Legislation has already been introduced in the Texas State 
Legislature prohibiting the use of any national certification or 
national examination to determine if someone is qualified to teach in 
Texas. While I applaud this legislation, I wonder if Texas would change 
its' policies if the Department of Education threatened to deny Texas 
federal funds if Texas failed to adopt the Department's chosen method 
of teacher certification and testing. It is up to Congress to see that 
the Department of Education does not bully the states into adopting the 
method of teacher certification and testing favored by DC-based 
bureaucrats.
  In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I once again urge my colleagues to join 
me in opposing national teacher certification or national teacher 
testing. Training and certification of classroom teachers is the job of 
state governments, local school districts, educators, and parents; this 
vital function should not be usurped by federal bureaucrats and/or 
politicians. Please stand up for America's teachers and students by 
signing on as a cosponsor of my legislation to ensure taxpayer dollars 
do not support national teacher certification or national teacher 
testing.

Coalition of Independent Education Associations--Statement on National 
                  Teacher Licensure, February 26, 1999

       The licensure of teachers should remain the responsibility 
     of each state's Board of Education and any attempt to 
     authorize the federal government to govern this process 
     should be opposed.
       Secretary of Education Richard Riley's proposal (February 
     16, 1999) to empower a teacher panel to grant licenses for 
     teaching would remove the separate state's authority to 
     protect the welfare of the general public.
       Teaching is a public enterprise and not a private 
     profession.
       Such high stakes licensure decisions must be controlled by 
     a body that is responsible to the public and has 
     accountability for the quality of the decision.
       The current education reform movement has compelled states' 
     Boards of Education to revamp and improve teacher licensure 
     programs. This right should be left to the states to best 
     determine how they license state teachers.
       Congress should oppose any movement toward federalizing 
     educator licensure, teacher appraisal, and employment 
     contracts.
       The undersigned representatives of the Coalition of 
     Independent Education Associations strongly urge our members 
     of the Congress and the Senate to vigorously defend the 
     rights of states to control their educational destiny.
         Arizona Professional Educators, Association of American 
           Educators, Association of Professional Educators of 
           Louisiana, Association of Professional

[[Page E859]]

           Oklahoma Educators, Association of Texas Professional 
           Educators, Kentucky Association of Professional 
           Educators, Keystone Teachers Association, West Virginia 
           Professional Educators, Mississippi Professional 
           Educators, National Association of Professional 
           Educators, Palmetto State Teachers Association, 
           Professional Educators Network of Florida, Professional 
           Educators of Iowa, Professional Educators of North 
           Carolina, Professional Educators of Tennessee.

           

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