This booklet describes major issues in teaching and significant initiatives to strengthen teaching in New York State's public schools. The following topics are covered: (1) recruitment and preservice education; (2) teacher certification; (3) staff development and other improvements in the condition of teaching; (4) recognition of outstanding…

In response to national calls for educational reform, Maine's legislature established a career ladder certification system with three steps: provisional, professional, and master teacher. The goal was to tie teacher advancement to evidence of improved teaching and classroom management. The 1984 plan required that teacher committees develop…

The implicit definition of competence and the inferential chain that links the standard-setting process to the decision outcomes of the method are considered for two classes of standard-setting procedures: those involving data-free judgments of items and those involving data-based judgment of items. The major underlying assumptions of competence…

Professional disclosure in counseling is the process of informing clients about the services being provided and the persons providing those services. It includes the issues of client expectation, accountability and consumerism and counselor credentialing. The effects of a professional disclosure statement on client expectations, behavior, and…

In the introduction to this report, it is noted that the quality of mathematics and science education in our schools depends to a great extent on the teachers in the classroom, and that the competency of the teachers depends on preservice preparation programs and state certification requirements which insure that minimum standards have been…

Composed of three books (a procedures guide, the basic student manual, and lesson plans), the instructor's manual provides information to set up and conduct a Hunter Education Certification Course. Course topics include: an introduction, firearms and ammunition, hunting tradition and ethics, the hunter and conservation, safe firearms handling,…

This paper reports on the promises and pitfalls of the recently legislated basic skills testing requirement for teaching or service credential applicants in California. The California Basic Education Skills Test (CBEST), developed by Educational Testing Service from specifications set by Advisory Board to the State Department of Education, tests…

This document provides assistance to teachers who will present computer literacy courses established by the State Board of Education and required of all seventh and eight grade Texas students, beginning September 1, 1985, and to other educators responsible for teacher training. Designed to guide the teachers' training program, define the necessary…

This paper presents two propositions: (1) that extensive knowledge of subject matter is a necessary but not sufficient condition for effective teaching; and (2) that teacher education is a legitimate professional preparation which should be improved rather than circumvented. Six rationales for the validity of the above propositions, based on…

The greates obstacles medics face in negotiating the passage between military and civilian health jobs are created by civilian hiring standards. Civilian employers rely on licensure by a State agency or accreditation by a professional organization. (Author/AJ)

The challenge of the expanding computer industry to business educators is discussed--a new profession, emerging organization leaders, program objectives, and ethical/professional guidelines. (EA)

A paralegal is a person with legal skills who works under the supervision of an attorney or who is otherwise authorized by law to use these skills. The article describes the functions of the paralegal, the types of employment for which the paralegal is qualified, training programs, training techniques, and standards for certification. (AJ)

With the advent of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, (P.L. 94-142), diagnostic evaluations and recommendations for service should proceed on a logical and unbiased basis. Studies from the past decade have suggested that there is considerable bias in diagnostic labeling due to socioeconomic status and age of the child. In turn this…

Evaluation of a career education institute, conducted to infuse career education into the preservice certification at participating higher education institutions throughout New York State, was designed to assess the effectiveness of the conference and to serve as a model for similar activities. There were two major components of the evaluation.…