TO THE EDITOR:
In “Report says teacher education lacks rigor” (Nov. 20), one of your sources is quoted suggesting that there are no admissions nor graduation requirements for education majors. This is absurd.
At Carolina, undergraduate students need a minimum 2.5 grade point average for admission into education programs. For advanced licensure programs, such as our master’s for experienced teachers program, a minimum 3.0 GPA is required for admission.
Those standards are rising. Under newly adopted national standards for accreditation of education programs, undergraduate students will need a minimum 3.0 GPA to be admitted to an education program.
Teaching is tough work. It demands strong students who meet high standards.
For anyone to suggest otherwise betrays an ignorance of the realities of the profession and of the preparation would-be teachers achieve.
Michael Hobbs
Director of communications
School of Education