Should future teachers have a psychological evaluation?

[Marseeya]

I'm just curious what you all think of this idea.

Most of you know I'm getting my masters in secondary ed. Every day I'm more and more surprised at my fellow students' horrible attitudes towards kids, parents, and education in general. I am truly worried at the thought that they'll be working with kids. I had a professor who fully believed that students applying to the education department should have some sort of screening process, including some type of psychological eval. On the other hand, some of these kids could really turn into great teachers given half a chance.

I'm beginning to agree with the screening process.

What say ya'll?

 

[aprilgail2]

I agree!!
They should also have to be fingerprinted and total background check run on them like they do when hiring police officers!! To many nut balls make it into the teaching profession...every day around here you are reading something in the paper about one of them!!

 

[Marseeya]

I agree!!
They should also have to be fingerprinted and total background check run on them like they do when hiring police officers!! To many nut balls make it into the teaching profession...every day around here you are reading something in the paper about one of them!!

I like that idea too. I wonder why they don't need a background check? That's kind of odd.

DH disagrees with me and believes each school district should do all the screening. I just don't think we should waste people's time like that, letting them spend 10s of thousands of dollars for an education they won't be able to use.

 

[JPN4265]

Maybe we should take this one step further, and make the test mandatory for future parents also. A test before you have the test to see if your with child.

 

[Boston Tea Party]

I like that idea too. I wonder why they don't need a background check? That's kind of odd.

I had to submit to a background check.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I agree---I mean--if you don't like children....why get into a profession where it is nothing but.

Reminds me of my women-hater/inconvenienced by pregnant women OB/GYN. Ummmm--hello!!!! Your patients will be all female in that profession!

And if a potential teacher has half a chance on becoming a good one--a proper screening would yield that. There are some real winners (NOT) out that there that the children could have been saved some real grief had they been screened to reveal that a profession involving minors probably wouldn't be the best idea.


As far as parent testing.....umm...I guess that was a joke--but these are two totally separate things.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

DH disagrees with me and believes each school district should do all the screening. I just don't think we should waste people's time like that, letting them spend 10s of thousands of dollars for an education they won't be able to use.

I think it should be part of the hiring process and not a prerequisite for a degree.

I don't technically use my education--but I do have a degree. If I ever reenter the field I studied for--it's going to be a while. However--I don't consider it a waste of money in the least. I think that should be left up to academics to decide who can get their degrees and who cannot. If someone wants to waste their time on a degree to get into a profession they have no business being in--that's their business.

The school district in the interview process--it's their job to weed out those who are ill qualified or ill suited for the job. I agree with your DH.

 

[LBAK]

I was fingerprinted and had a background check for my school district. I think it is pretty common now a days and it's a good idea.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Background checks are done already.

As far as psychological screenings while going to school, nope. Too many flaws with that process.

 

[minkydog]

Psychological testing was part of the interview process at the college where i took my teacher training. To be accepted into the college of education you had to pass the psychological test as well as providing references. They took teacher trainig pretty seriously.

 

[Texan Mouseketeer]

Psychological testing was part of the interview process at the college where i took my teacher training. To be accepted into the college of education you had to pass the psychological test as well as providing references. They took teacher trainig pretty seriously.

Same here - they wouldn't let you continue with your certification courses or student observation/teaching unless you passed the psychological exam...