Complaints inaccurate about state teaching requirements
Mr. Tom Ryan of Lakebay, Wash., recently wrote a letter to the editor about education in rural Alaska. He accused the Alaska State Legislature of trying to force "cultural change" in rural Alaska by enacting the requirement for "highly qualified teachers" in the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). He stated that this requirement is impossible to meet because rural teachers would have to have college degrees in seven to 10 different subjects, which would force local rural schools to close in favor of regional boarding schools.
He's wrong on several counts.
First, it was Congress who enacted NCLB and the requirement for "highly qualified" teachers. They have no interest in whether Alaska has local schools or regional schools.
Second, NCLB says that teachers can be judged "highly qualified" if they are certified by the state, have a bachelor's degree, and pass a test or submit a portfolio showing what they know and can teach it. It is up to each state to determine how teachers are deemed "highly qualified." Our state Department of Education is currently working on how our many excellent teachers can demonstrate their qualifications without requiring them to have college degrees in seven to 10 different subjects.
Third, the Alaska State Legislature has no intention of "forcing cultural change" and such a charge is ludicrous and insulting. The only agenda on the minds of state legislators is to ensure that all of Alaska's children receive an excellent education. We also highly value local control of education, which means that whether a town, city or village wants to educate its children locally or at a regional school, it's their decision.
Fourth, while there are some very highly effective schools and teachers out in the rural areas, there are some with problems. Having more regional boarding schools could, in some instances, help solve some of those problems. But Mr. Ryan is incorrect if he thinks that idea is coming from the Legislature. In fact, it is coming from rural Alaskans who are seeking less of a "generalist" or mile-wide, inch-deep type of education for their children and more in-depth educational opportunities. In fact, demand for the regional school type of education is growing. Last year there were over 300 applicants for only 140 openings at Mt. Edgecumbe. Mr. Ryan should also note that many of our current Native leaders have graduated from the Mt. Edgecumbe-type of regional high school, which gave them a chance to relate to and learn from fellow students from across Alaska. If rural residents support additional schools such as Mt. Edgecumbe, the Legislature will certainly evaluate that. Not the other way around.
Mr. Ryan is uninformed, out of touch with Alaska and offensive. I, for one, do not appreciate his comments. I doubt many Alaskans appreciate another "expert" from the Lower 48 telling them what is best for them.
• Con Bunde is a state senator from Anchorage.