
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, August 3, 1993                   TAG: 9308030328
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

SEND PROFS BACK TO SCHOOL

TODAY, FEW people have difficulty in recognizing the changing composite portrait of the student of the 90's. Apparently, this fact has eluded the Dean of Engineering at Va. Tech, G. Wayne Clough (There's No Generation Of Boneheads, July 11, 1993). That is why I appreciated the rebuttal comments and recommendations made by John B. Crittenden, associate professor of engineering at Va. Tech (Teaching High School Basics--In College July 20, 1993). Mr. Crittenden suggested that one way to change the attitudes of administrators is to have them occasionally teach a standard (non-honors) first-year course.

This is an excellent recommendation; indeed I know of at least one instance in which this is happening at Va. Tech. I would, however, enlarge upon his recommendation. I propose that all teacher educators, responsible to prepare our nation's teachers to meet the challenging student of the 90's, be required to return to the public schools for a brief but realistic teaching experience. In my opinion, no other movement would more rapidly initiate a restructuring of our teacher preparation programs. LORI B. MICK BLACKSBURG

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