We require teachers to pass subject tests in the areas of their certification. To teach Spanish, I had to pass a Spanish test. I also had to demonstrate that I had the necessary number of college credits to qualify as a Spanish teacher.

More and more often today, we are using tests and rubrics to evaluate teacher effectiveness. May I suggest that it’s past time to require that educational administrators meet a minimum standard of mathematical competency? A minor in statistics or equivalent coursework ought to be mandatory for school leaders nowadays. Too many former English and P.E. teachers are making decisions based on numbers they don’t understand and sometimes cannot even calculate.

(See my post from March 15 of this year for a scary example.)