In California teachers are indeed state certified. Even substitute teachers have to go through several steps to achieve an emergency teaching permit, the first being to take and pass the CBEST. Unfortunately, the CBEST is not very difficult to pass and therefore does not effectively ensure that our teachers are of the highest intelligence. It merely ensures that they have basic math, reading comprehension and essay skills. Beyond that, the system also requires fees to be paid for licenses, credentials and permits and for applicants to pass a TB skin test.

Passing a state exam makes someone no more of a teacher than giving birth makes someone a parent. Yes, these both may be considered “jobs” by dictionary definition. However, it is when an individual shows compassion, pride, determination and a love for their “work” (students, children, etc.) that they truly earn the honor of being considered a teacher… or parent.

Though there may be a number of educators out there whose qualifications for teaching are questionable, I must say that a majority of them belong where they are. Most often, it is a person of great character who chooses to make a career of helping others. Sadly, they are not regarded or commended highly enough for a job well done.

That’s just my humble opinion. Thanks for letting me share.

All that state certification does is tell you that the person has some basic knowledge about educational methods and the content of what they are teaching. However, knowing this information is way different than being a “teacher.” That involves not only the above knowledge, but also passion, dedication, committment, communication skills (with kids, co-workers, parents, and administrators), and a certain type of personality. Just like I could study all the information that lawyers need to know and then pass the bar exam, but having that book knowledge won’t make me a lawyer- I’d be lousy at it because I wouldn’t be committed, etc.

A person is a teacher at heart- before and after state certification. That piece of paper doesn’t change anything inside of them- it just proves their committment to the profession. (and makes it legal to teach- very important!)

A license (called a certificate in most states) simply shows that you have met state requirements for teaching. If you are not teaching for a living at any given time, then you are a teacher only in the sense of having a certificate and in that it has been your profession and you are qualified to fill vacancies in schools hiring teachers.

Teacher means anyone who teaches. Teaching makes you a teacher. Teaching with dedication makes you a good teacher, certificate or not.

Tests can tell if you know facts. That’s about it. Teachers do have to pass a certification test, but that test only gives you a license to work as a teacher. It does not make you a teacher. Skill and experience and effort make a person a teacher.

A license makes it legal to teach.But a good person who cares 100% about the well being of there students education and even there life that to me makes a good teacher!

I agree. Teachers should get paid more, but the steps to becoming a teacher should be more rigorous. Tenure should also take longer to achieve. I have had teachers that should have never been alone in a room with children or teenagers.

teaching license does not make a teacher, but it gives you the right to practice teaching. just as a drivers license gives you the right to drive legally, and a medical license gives you the right to practice medicine. does not necessarily mean that you are going to be good at it.

I license doesn’t make a public school teacher, but a public school teacher isn’t one without a license.

i agree.

some of the people who have taught me the most don’t even have college degrees.

really, the license doesn’t make the teacher, it just allows the state to enforce some type of minimum aptitude..

Not necessarily. A good teacher is a ‘born teacher’.

A big number of teachers are not good teachers at all, they could be good at something else.