HON. RON PAUL
OF TEXAS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Wednesday, May 5, 1999
1999 Ron Paul 41:1 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.
1999 Ron Paul 41:2 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.
1999 Ron Paul 41:3 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.
1999 Ron Paul 41:4 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.
1999 Ron Paul 41:5 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.
1999 Ron Paul 41:6
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.
1999 Ron Paul 41:7 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.
1999 Ron Paul 41:8 Teaching is a public enterprise and not a
private profession.
1999 Ron Paul 41:9 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.
1999 Ron Paul 41:10 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.
1999 Ron Paul 41:11 Congress should oppose any movement toward
federalizing educator licensure, teacher
appraisal, and employment contracts.
1999 Ron Paul 41:12 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.
1999 Ron Paul 41:13
Arizona Professional Educators, Association
of American Educators, Association
of Professional Educators of Louisiana,
Association of Professional
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.
Notes:
1999 Ron Paul 41:1
federally-approved probably should not be hyphenated: federally approved.
1999 Ron Paul 41:2
the administration probably should be capitalized: the Administration.
1999 Ron Paul 41:4
itsÂ’ policies probably should have no apostrophe: its policies.
