Mark Perich

Sharon

There are two issues that bother me about West Middlesex School District’s view of Canyon College courses. An unnamed teacher stated that they weren’t as rigorous as the master’s degree classes of his/her university.

So is the public supposed to assume that all degrees that come from a brick and mortar university are equal and all fields of study require the same rigor to obtain the degree?

Does a bachelor’s degree in physics or chemistry equate to one in business administration? Does a degree in mathematics, science or nursing equate to one in elementary education or social work? Well, the debate is on!

Here is what I know. For years the commonwealth offered loan forgiveness to teachers in math and science. Wonder why? The commonwealth saw the distribution of candidates in all fields of study and saw how schools struggled to attract math and science teachers.

Regardless of academic rigor, teachers are assigned salaries based on their highest degree and years of service. The salary schedule is contained in a negotiated contract.

Superintendent Alan Baldarelli’s decision wasn’t based on favoritism, “the good ole boys’ system” or receiving a kickback. His decision was based on what would improve education for the students of West Middlesex Area School District, within the negotiated contract.

Secondly, how is the creation of online courses considered criminal activity? Is it because they provided an affordable research-based educational opportunity that would help their colleagues become better practitioners in their classrooms, thus ultimately benefiting West Middlesex students by using the most up-to-date instructional strategies to improve student achievement?

Is it because the instructors are not qualified to instruct? Dr. Pasquerilla and Mr. Hogue already teach college classes for high school students in the district. They both have credentials to teach master’s level classes.

Two educators thinking outside the box offered an in-house master’s for their colleagues and they are being chastised for it. Canyon College might be far away, but the answers some of the school board members were looking for concerning Canyon were right in their own backyard.