No Degree Requirement for Preschool Teachers
(the Con Argument)
My last post listed some reasons why it is desirable to require prekindergarten teachers to have four-year college degrees. Here are some of the points of the opposition.
- Does a degree equal a quality teacher? Some researchers are not finding a causal relationship between a B.A. and classroom effectiveness.
- Degrees in early childhood education are still not readily available. It is not certain that Florida could attract enough teachers to be successful.
- Degree requirements will homogenize the prekindergarten world. Spanish-speaking teachers, ethnic diversity, and alternative philosophies, such as Montessori, may all become endangered should accreditation standards be put in place.
- Teachers with degrees command higher salaries. Existing centers and private programs may have to close because they cannot compete.
