Observation Hour Frustration
When I went back to a college closer to home to complete my teaching certification in January 2011, I was told that the Education dept required a student teacher to have 75 observation hours before they could student teach. This wasn’t really a problem since I had 60 from the college I got my B.S. from and then would complete 20+ hours for some other classes I had to take before student teaching.
Well, the State of KY decided to change the requirements from 75 to 200 observation hours. This change would go into effect Sept. 1, 2013.
The college I’m attending/working at decided that they would implement this change a year early in order to have more students prepared. However, we had a number of meetings where the Chair of the Education dept told us that if we were entered into the TEP (Teacher Education Program) before Sept. 2012 then we would basically be grandfathered in and our 75 hours would count exempting us from the 200 hours.
…This week the Education dept went back on their word and now we have to do the 200 hours. At least 5 of us with 75 hours were planning on trying to student teach in August and are now having to scramble to try and get enough hours.
I substitute on top of the teaching job I have at my college. I asked my advisor at our meeting today if those hours could count because I’m getting way more experience doing that than just observing. My advisor agreed but had to check with the higher ups. The new Chair of the Education dept said no. Any paid work cannot be counted.
To say that I’m frustrated is an understatement.
My friend and I did the math and if I go observe at a school for 7 hours on Tuesday and Thursday for the rest of the school year, I will have enough hours. It sucks because I use Tuesday and Thursday to plan and grade for my own classes. I’m hoping I’ll be able to find an English teacher who will just sign for my hours and I can go chill out in the library for 7 hours.
Well, the State of KY decided to change the requirements from 75 to 200 observation hours. This change would go into effect Sept. 1, 2013.
The college I’m attending/working at decided that they would implement this change a year early in order to have more students prepared. However, we had a number of meetings where the Chair of the Education dept told us that if we were entered into the TEP (Teacher Education Program) before Sept. 2012 then we would basically be grandfathered in and our 75 hours would count exempting us from the 200 hours.
…This week the Education dept went back on their word and now we have to do the 200 hours. At least 5 of us with 75 hours were planning on trying to student teach in August and are now having to scramble to try and get enough hours.
I substitute on top of the teaching job I have at my college. I asked my advisor at our meeting today if those hours could count because I’m getting way more experience doing that than just observing. My advisor agreed but had to check with the higher ups. The new Chair of the Education dept said no. Any paid work cannot be counted.
To say that I’m frustrated is an understatement.
My friend and I did the math and if I go observe at a school for 7 hours on Tuesday and Thursday for the rest of the school year, I will have enough hours. It sucks because I use Tuesday and Thursday to plan and grade for my own classes. I’m hoping I’ll be able to find an English teacher who will just sign for my hours and I can go chill out in the library for 7 hours.