Published: February 1, 2000

Letters

If, indeed, "teaching is alchemy, the phase of the moon, and whether or not Johnny had breakfast," as Emmet Rosenfeld so poetically and pathetically asserts [ "Misfire," January], then not only do we not need Praxis or any other test, we also do not need any sort of college prep for teachers. In fact, if Rosenfeld is correct, then any derelict hanging out at the 7-Eleven could be a fine teacher, and we oughtta hire 'em. Trouble is, getting rid of Praxis and college prep for teachers suggests we should have no instruction, testing, and certification for other professionals—such as doctors, lawyers, cosmetologists, engineers, and plumbers.

Thom Prentice

Assistant Professor of Education

Southwest Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas

David Ruenzel's central critique of Susan Ohanian's One Size Fits Few is dead wrong [ "Out Of Order," November/December]. Policy wonks and educrats riding the standards bandwagon always promote their pet standards (and other "accountability tools") as "a guarantee of educational equity." Ruenzel might want to attend a few in-service sessions for classroom teachers if he doesn't believe that's how...