2008 Woodie Awards
New Teaching Test Added for Education Majors
Danielle DeSouza
Issue date: 4/7/04 Section: News
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Education Majors are now required by the State of New York to take a new test called the Content Specialty Test, in order to be certified to teach in New York State. In recent years, only two tests were required. Some Manhattan College students think the test will be beneficial, while others believe that another test will only add on to the stress of being certified. The test became mandatory in early February of this year.
Students who specify in a certain field will have to take a content test in their field. If a student is an Education Major specializing in Mathematics, he or she will have to take the content test in Math. There are 38 Content Specialty Tests and all tests, except for languages other than English, consist of multiple-choice questions and a written assignment.
William Merriman, Dean of School of Education, said that the test itself does not affect a student's ability to graduate. However, in order to teach after graduation, a student will have to pass the Content Test along with the Liberal Arts and Science Test (LAST) and the Assessment of Teaching Skills-Written Test (ATS-W). Dean Merriam said that he knows that the third test may be stressful to students, but it will benefit them in the end.
"If you are going to teach, you need to know your subject," he said. "The movement in teacher preparation has been to tighten up the regulations to teach. One thing that most experts agree on is that students must know the contents of their subjects. If we prepare our students well, our students should not have a difficult time passing these tests."
According to Dean Merriman, Manhattan College students generally do well on the LAST and the ATS-W. He said that in the last fiscal year 99% of MC students passed the LAST, while 100% passed the ATS-W.
The LAST consists of multiple-choice questions and a written assignment. Students who take the test must demonstrate analytical skills, critical thinking, communication skills, and multicultural awareness. The test covers science, math, history, social awareness, artistic expression, humanities, communication and research skills, and writing ability.
Students who specify in a certain field will have to take a content test in their field. If a student is an Education Major specializing in Mathematics, he or she will have to take the content test in Math. There are 38 Content Specialty Tests and all tests, except for languages other than English, consist of multiple-choice questions and a written assignment.
William Merriman, Dean of School of Education, said that the test itself does not affect a student's ability to graduate. However, in order to teach after graduation, a student will have to pass the Content Test along with the Liberal Arts and Science Test (LAST) and the Assessment of Teaching Skills-Written Test (ATS-W). Dean Merriam said that he knows that the third test may be stressful to students, but it will benefit them in the end.
"If you are going to teach, you need to know your subject," he said. "The movement in teacher preparation has been to tighten up the regulations to teach. One thing that most experts agree on is that students must know the contents of their subjects. If we prepare our students well, our students should not have a difficult time passing these tests."
According to Dean Merriman, Manhattan College students generally do well on the LAST and the ATS-W. He said that in the last fiscal year 99% of MC students passed the LAST, while 100% passed the ATS-W.
The LAST consists of multiple-choice questions and a written assignment. Students who take the test must demonstrate analytical skills, critical thinking, communication skills, and multicultural awareness. The test covers science, math, history, social awareness, artistic expression, humanities, communication and research skills, and writing ability.