“When you start with the premise that you want to eliminate the certification process in charter schools — then that’s absurd,” NJEA spokesman Steve Baker said. “If you were starting a hospital, would you staff it with architects and lawyers and not surgeons?”On the other hand, New Jersey Newsroom's latest ed editorials...well, judge for yourself. One, by Salvatore Pizzuro, takes up the argument that no charter schools should be authorized in NJ without a public vote; anyway, charter schools don’t really work. The other defends teacher tenure because it’s “fair and equitable;” other industries would be wise to emulate the same model.Thing is, gifted, results-driven teachers don’t have to be brain surgeons. They have to inspire their students, some of whom may one day be brain surgeons.
Cerf should be given the leeway to revamp the outdated, outmoded teacher certification process, especially in the case of charter schools.