Letter: New teacher videos prove nothing
Classrooms across Long Island were empty on Thursday. Check our listings of delayed openings, closures and cancellations to see what's in store for Friday. Credit: Daniel Brennan
Teachers-to-be have had to take written tests for a number of years ["Testing the teacher," Letters, March 30]. In addition, they are rated by their college professors and other teachers during the student-teaching phase.
Many school districts require a writing test, a demonstration lesson and an interview before hiring a teacher.
What is new is the 15-minute video of a teacher-to-be giving a lesson. Most classroom lessons are at least 40 minutes. Do people really think that assessing 15 minutes out of 40 will show what this teaching candidate can or cannot do? All it does is put needless stress on a student without a valid outcome.
Michael Weinick, Merrick
