The waste of our faculties

So now the Ontario Liberals are promising to double the time prospective teachers have to endure at a faculty of education - from one year to two. How do I hate this? Let me count the ways.

• First, almost everyone who has done his time at a faculty of education will tell you it is an almost total waste of time. When the Ontario College of Teachers asked its members to rank the sources of their teaching skills in 2003, pre-service training at a faculty of education was ranked ninth - after such things as common sense and input from family members.
• Second, the prospect of a wasted year at a faculty of education deters many excellent would-be teachers, for example people with special skills who might be interested in a career change or retired professionals, from entering the profession. Two years would be even more of a deterrent.
• Third, teacher training takes time away from the acquisition of the knowledge and skills which the graduates will be expected to teach. The additional year would subtract even more time from this important education.
• Fourth, most Ontario faculties of education are dominated by the same educational philosophy, namely child-centred learning. Adding a second year of brainwashing is a poor idea.

If the Liberals really want to improve things in this area, they should authorize alternative methods of training and certifying teachers.