Thank you for your efforts in helping to keep our busy leadership informed. The way in which these issues are addressed will surely serve either to pave our future smoothly or cause us to drive a rutted roadway in the years ahead.
Best regards,
F. Richard Olenchak, Ph.D., P.C.
Professor, Psychologist, and Co-Director
Urban Talent Research Institute
Associate Chair for Special Programs
Department of Curriculum and Instruction University of Houston Houston, TX77204-5023
Here is more evidence that our “Lack of Mandatory Gifted and Talented Teacher Certification” is killing GT Education in Texas. Here is an abbreviated e-mail from Dr. Joyce Juntune at Texas A&M University:
“As to the changes in courses due to the state requirements changing – yes it does make a difference… We do not offer separate GT courses- because the demand disappeared once the GT endorsement was lifted (by the TX State Legislature-my comment). Everything is tied to dollars-we hire teaching staff to match the demands of students (no mandatory GT certification required means no student demand- my comment). Obviously when the demand dropped with the lifting of GT endorsement- the department assigned out teaching time to the areas which were in demand. Everything at the university is really related to the people who are teaching there. I suspect that the day I retire both the emphasis on gifted and the emphasis on creativity will leave with me. Someone with new interests will offer new courses in a new area.
Joyce E. Juntune, Ph.D. Institute for Applied Creativity Department of Education Psychology Texas A & M University College Station, TX 77843-4225 979-776-9347
We do not have to dismantle our GT program in Texas. All we need is to add two things to the current system.
1] Require mandatory GT teacher certification (by TX certification exam). 2] Require a GT screening exam for all students entering the TX public school systems during their first year in school.
Sincerely,
Dick Kantenberger Texas Certified Math, Physics, Special Ed., Gifted and Talented Teacher. 12715 Taylorcrest Rd. Houston, TX 77024 713-465-6077 rfkantenberger@sbcglobal.net http://rfkantenberger.blogspot.com
Several states are experiencing difficulty holding on to their gifted and talented legislation and funding. We have 18 states that have no requirements for teachers of the gifted. I think it is clearly a national problem.
joyce
Joyce VanTassel-Baska, Ed.D. Jody and Layton Smith Professor in Education and Executive Director, Center for Gifted Education, College of William and Mary Past President, National Association for Gifted Children
I wouldn't be surprised if that is the case. At Baylor, we have very few applicants for master's level programs in gifted education. Maybe one every three years. We do have an undergraduate program that offers a dual certificate (GT and elementary certificates) and have about 11-15 students who graduate from that program each year. Our undergraduate program is nationally recognized by NCATE, and our graduates often receive outstanding teacher awards in their school districts.
Teachers in Texas only have to have a 30 clock-hour certificate with only minimal topic requirements. In Louisiana, teachers are required to have a master's degree in gifted education and 18 hours of coursework. They have strong university programs.
The requirements in Texas do not allow teachers to meet national standards and ultimately affect not only courses offered at universities but also the quality of the education of gifted students.
Thanks for asking the question, Susan
Susan K. Johnsen, Ph. D. Professor, Department of Educational Psychology School of Education Baylor University One Bear Place #97301 Waco, TX 76798
Here is more evidence that our “Lack of Mandatory Gifted and Talented Teacher Certification” is killing GT Education in Texas. Here is an abbreviated e-mail from Dr. Joyce Juntune at Texas A&M University:
ReplyDelete“As to the changes in courses due to the state requirements changing – yes it does make a difference… We do not offer separate GT courses- because the demand disappeared once the GT endorsement was lifted (by the TX State Legislature-my comment). Everything is tied to dollars-we hire teaching staff to match the demands of students (no mandatory GT certification required means no student demand- my comment). Obviously when the demand dropped with the lifting of GT endorsement- the department assigned out teaching time to the areas which were in demand. Everything at the university is really related to the people who are teaching there. I suspect that the day I retire both the emphasis on gifted and the emphasis on creativity will leave with me. Someone with new interests will offer new courses in a new area.
Joyce E. Juntune, Ph.D.
Institute for Applied Creativity
Department of Education Psychology
Texas A & M University
College Station, TX 77843-4225
979-776-9347
We do not have to dismantle our GT program in Texas. All we need is to add two things to the current system.
1] Require mandatory GT teacher certification (by TX certification exam).
2] Require a GT screening exam for all students entering the TX public school systems during their first year in school.
Sincerely,
Dick Kantenberger
Texas Certified Math, Physics, Special Ed., Gifted and Talented Teacher.
12715 Taylorcrest Rd.
Houston, TX 77024
713-465-6077
rfkantenberger@sbcglobal.net
http://rfkantenberger.blogspot.com
Dick-
ReplyDeleteSeveral states are experiencing difficulty holding on to their gifted and talented legislation and funding. We have 18 states that have no requirements for teachers of the gifted. I think it is clearly a national problem.
joyce
Joyce VanTassel-Baska, Ed.D.
Jody and Layton Smith Professor in Education and Executive Director,
Center for Gifted Education,
College of William and Mary
Past President, National Association for Gifted Children
Dear Richard,
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't be surprised if that is the case. At Baylor, we have very few applicants for master's level programs in gifted education. Maybe one every three years. We do have an undergraduate program that offers a dual certificate (GT and elementary certificates) and have about 11-15 students who graduate from that program each year. Our undergraduate program is nationally recognized by NCATE, and our graduates often receive outstanding teacher awards in their school districts.
Teachers in Texas only have to have a 30 clock-hour certificate with only minimal topic requirements. In Louisiana, teachers are required to have a master's degree in gifted education and 18 hours of coursework. They have strong university programs.
The requirements in Texas do not allow teachers to meet national standards and ultimately affect not only courses offered at universities but also the quality of the education of gifted students.
Thanks for asking the question,
Susan
Susan K. Johnsen, Ph. D.
Professor, Department of Educational Psychology
School of Education
Baylor University
One Bear Place #97301
Waco, TX 76798