KEEP FEDERAL HANDS OFF TEACHER STANDARDS

The federal government has unsurpassed expertise when it comes to meddling. So it should come as no surprise that Education Secretary Richard Riley has proposed national standards for teachers.

Yes, something needs to be done about the state of public education, but the federal government continues to go about a cure with the wrong medicine. Mandates from above are not the answer. Individual school districts need to be empowered with the resources to make improvements in each district.

But back to national teacher standards. Educrats in Washington have no right to set the standards for teachers in Cape Girardeau or Perryville or Kennett -- or Los Angeles for that matter. Those standards should rest with the states.

Some base of accreditation does make sense. But, again, that should be left to the states. It would be nice to know that when recruiting teachers, those who qualify for the classroom in neighboring Arkansas, Tennessee or Illinois would mesh with Missouri standards. But these guidelines should be determined on a state-by-state or even district-by-district basis.

Acknowledging the credentials of teachers who move from one district to another could be similar to what universities already do in terms of accepting transfer students. A determination is made on the standards of each university and what credits will transfer. States could look at teacher standards in much the same way. Perhaps this kind of peer pressure might be a better encouragement to improve training.

Riley's proposal may be well-intended. State licensing requirements vary greatly, and only 38 states require some sort of test or performance review for teachers.

But good intentions often make for heavy-handed legislation. The federal government has a bad habit of micro-managing every program in which it has even the slightest involvement.

Riley said there would be no federal stick or carrot to encourage states to improve teacher licensing. How long would that last? If states ignore the fed's guidelines, you can bet it would only be a matter of time before the federal government enforces its so-called guidelines.

Teachers standards are often based on academic degrees and certificates. But states also need the flexibility to take advantage of working professionals in other fields, much the way universities and colleges do.

National teacher standards? No thank you. That's a duty that should remain securely within state control.