When it comes to public education, government claims immunity from its own laws. Antitrust laws protect consumers’ rights and prohibit monopoly control over services and commodities, and for good reason. Yet this basic legal protection has eluded millions of American parents and public school children, leaving them captive to a monopolistic government education system that stomps out freedom or competition.
But the monopoly extends far beyond decisions about student assignment; in fact, its control pervades all aspects of education policy.
Consider entry into the teaching profession. Certification should be a simple, straightforward procedure, particularly given frequent hand-wringing from State Board of Education members over teacher shortages. Yet in spite of the board’s unceasing lament, public schoolteachers must still jump through a series of rigid (and often nonsensical) hoops to get into classrooms. Our certification system is so fraught with bureaucratic red tape that a chemist with a doctorate cannot teach high school chemistry without first taking “education courses.”
Given the scope of their power, are state bureaucrats intent on easing classroom entry for qualified professionals? Not exactly. The state education monopoly has gone out of its way to protect its own special interests (and those of its allies) at the expense of public school students. Certification policies for professionals who want to change careers and become teachers are proof positive of this.
Currently, would-be teachers with at least a four-year college degree in a subject other than education must embark on a process called lateral entry before they can be certified to enter the classroom. Lateral-entry candidates, while trained in subjects such as English, math, or science, have not taken the 30 or more hours of required education courses. In order to become certified, the prospective teachers must take classes through the N.C.
University System and other private schools of education (approved by the bureaucrats at the state Department of Public Instruction). But lateral-entry classes at a university can cost more than $600 each. Many professionals consider this too high a price to pay for mindless method classes.
In 2002, local education systems desperate to stave off teacher shortages suggested that community colleges join universities in providing courses for lateral-entry certification.
This made good sense — after all, community colleges already offered classes for teacher renewal. In the summer of 2002, DPI granted them the necessary approval.
Central Piedmont Community College and Sandhills Community College quickly jumped on board, luring competent professionals with an effective public campaign. Classes taught online by credentialed professors were offered at less than $150 per class. The program was a success, with enrollment at CPCC booming from 147 students in the fall of 2002 to more than 950 students in May 2003.
Allowing community colleges to compete with universities for lateral- entry students was both practical and cost-effective; yet this policy quickly lost the support of the K-12 government monopoly. DPI pulled the plug, citing the need for the university system’s “higher standards.” In reality, DPI (an agency packed with university allies) was acting to protect the interests of university systems displeased with the loss of their lateral-entry cash cow.
Where do we go from here? We must continue to fight for an education system that puts students first. Already, some states are taking steps to do just that: According to the National Association of Community College Teacher Education Programs, eight states offer full certification programs through community colleges, and many others offer complete lateral-entry certification programs. Will the pendulum swing back in our own state? Some legislators have introduced a bill to break up the certification monopoly.
In the end, though, one thing remains clear: Government education monopoly has ignored the needs of students for far too long. It’s time we did something about it.