Jenna Bush to Teach Fourth Grade in Fall (a charter school)

[Rose Siding]

HUEYTOWN, Ala. -- It took a group of second-graders to elicit from Jenna Bush something the first family doesn't often discuss publicly -- specifics on her future career.

Seated beside first lady Laura Bush in a classroom Wednesday, the 22-year-old college graduate laughed when it was their turn to read aloud with students at Hueytown Elementary School. She got through the exercise and asked a question relevant for the moment.

"What grade is this?" said Jenna, who plans to teach this fall.

"Second grade," eight 7-year-olds said in unison.

"I'm going to teach fourth grade," Jenna said.
...
Mrs. Bush offered some advice to Jenna, who plans to teach in a charter school beginning this fall.

"My main advice for Jenna and for all teachers in all schools is to remember to treat every child with respect," Mrs. Bush told reporters. "That's what our children deserve."

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-bush-twins,0,5261657.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

Sorry- another Bush daughter article but this element is new (and did the AP just give her a cookie for asking a "relevant" question?)

[grasswire]

1. isn't some advanced education required?

...to get a teaching credential?

What on earth will she teach fourth graders?

[greatauntoftriplets]

2. I wondered that too.

Has she taken the required number of education courses to become certified?

[elfwitch]

7. I don't think you have to get the same certifications if...

you teach at charter schools. I think it's kinda like teaching at private schools.

[iconoclastic cat]

20. The requirements vary by state.

In IL, you need a pulse. But most of the good charters won't hire you without a bachelor's in your subject.

[Not Me]

23. Honey, we are talking Alabama.

n/t

[DemBones DemBones]

33. The article doesn't say she's teaching in Alabama,

only that they were campaigning in Alabama.

Someone in GD says Jenna claimed she wants to teach poor black & Hispanic children in Harlem.

Letterman said she's moving to NYC.

We'll see. :shrug:

[St. Jarvitude]

76. Elementary schools usually require some sort of general education degree

I think the degree is called "primary education" or something like that.

[kittykitty]

71. You don't necessairly need certification to teach in private schools

My husband taught in California and Boston private schools with no certification. Also there are progams for people with degrees to obtain certification as they teach--taking evening and summer courses.

[devinsgram]

8. I thought that too.

I have a young guy in my world history class right now that has his degree but needs this class to get a teaching certificate. He has taken a couple of other extra classes too.

Well, at least she'll have a job to help support her dad when he loses his.

[texas_teacher]

4. Curious

She only has a degree in English....no education courses tacked on at all.

Yet another example of how the Bush family holds teachers and the teaching profession in low regard.

[VoteDemocratic2004]

9. If your a Bush you can be what you want to be even President

You don't have to be qualified all you have to be is a Bush.

:grr:

[MountainLaurel]

5. Doing a beer bong?

:evilgrin:

[Red State Rebel]

60. A bachelors in Elementary Education should be all she needs..

I know a lot of Education majors and they are all teaching here in Missouri after 4 years at University. There are pay incentives to pursue higher degrees but you can teach with a bachelors.

[TahitiNut]

61. Well, she's obviously qualified in California ...

... as a "stupid, dirty little girl." :evilgrin:

[Chovexani]

64. How to take jello shots (n/t)

[eyesroll]

3. Is she highly qualified?

Does she have licensure and a degree in the field in which she will be teaching?

/crickets

[notadmblnd]

6. and don't you have to be certified in the state

of which you teach i.e. a license?

[eyesroll]

15. I'm not sure if her state requires licensure for charter schools...

...but I believe things like this are exactly what her daddy wanted to stop via No Child Left Behind.

Look -- I'm an ex-teacher from a family of teachers. My sister teaches third grade; my mom taught fourth until she had me; my dad retired from high-school Spanish last year. (I got laid off after one year and didn't go back ever. Long story.) I'm not going to knock Jenna for doing it -- it's a damn tough thankless job and it's a good thing young people like her want to go into it.

But, if her daddy's law says she's not qualified, what is she doing to get qualified?

[KamaAina]

10. Wouldn't it be cool if her daddy ended up in her class

and she had to flunk him, because of No Child Left Behind??

[Cocoa]

22. Bush is the poster child for social promotion

[NMDemDist2]

11. isn't she still under secret service protection ?? n/t

[FlemingsGhost]

12. Good for her.

Teaching fourth graders will certainly challenge her. I hope she sticks with it. As long as it not politics ...

[Cobalt Violet]

13. I guess her criminal record is okay,

Hell she only used a fake Id. Why shouldn't we trust our kids too her.

[hightime]

30. "Too" her???

Your credentials for teaching and determining others teaching abilities are rather questionable.

[Cobalt Violet]

42. ETFOOM!!!

I know in my state one can NOT get a job teaching kids without an extensive cori and sori criminal back ground check. And many other occupations are off limits as well. And futhermore I have not intention of teaching your *&^%$# kiddies!

Anyway The point which was lost on you due to my TYPO was that if you have a rich powerful family it doesn't matter how many poor decision you make in life because the same rules don't apply to everyone. Parse that!

[July]

57. What's ETFOOM? Also,

don't let the spelling police bother you. There's a grammar error in his/her comment ("others" should be "others'").

[The Stranger]

58. Excellent catch!

"Others'" is possessive of the modified noun "abilities"?

[Mike Daniels]

56. I worked in an environment with kids once and the background check

focuses on more serious crimes than using a fake ID. I'm willing to gather a good number of young teachers have attempted the same in their college days.

Given the state of education nowadays I'd be willing to bet that Jenna is probably better qualified than some teachers working in schools at the present time.

[Placebo]

14. A testament to the sad state of education in this country.

Think of the CHILDREN! Why, oh WHY won't SOMEONE think of the CHILDREN?!?!

[goclark]

44. How do we check the requirements for teaching in a NY Charter?

This child should not be allowed to teach our children.

Why a minority school district? Does she think they don't deserve to have excellent teachers with high morals and strong family values?

They deserve much better than you Jenna!

[Chovexani]

65. I wondered about the minority thing too

I got a really creepy vibe from that, like she's a much younger version of the mayor's wife in The Color Purple.

"I do everything for you coloreds!"

:eyes:

[qazplm]

16. having been a teacher at a charter school

for a semester, there were teachers there who DID NOT have a bachelors degree, and very few of them were certified.

I had my Juris Doctor, so technically I had doctorate level education, but no education experience, or a single class, and no certification.

I could have taught at public school as well, you can start teaching and get certified as you go along within a couple of years by taking night classes.

Not to defend the girl, but nothing she is doing thus far vis-a-vis teaching is particularly out of the ordinary.

[Longhorn]

17. If the charter school is in Texas

then she has to hold an elementary certification, which can be earned along with a bachelor's degree but only if she takes the required education courses and passes the ExCET exams. She might also be hired to teach under an "emergency permit," which gives her three years to complete any missing credentials through a university program on a deficiency plan. Private schools do not necessarily require teacher certification. Seems like there was a new plan approved by TEA this last year that would allow more uncertified teachers in the classroom but I don't know how it varies from the emergency permit.

At least, this is my understanding as a former Texas public school teacher.

[Joanne98]

38. It's probably a "faith-based" school

Run by Billy Graham's son.

[AlFrankenFan]

18. Charter school? You want to really help kids teach public school n/t

[Longhorn]

28. Charter schools ARE public schools in Texas, anyway.

I don't know where Ms. Bush will be teaching but charter schools receive public funds as other public schools do. The difference is that the school administration has more control over how the school is run and the money is spent. Most of them serve a specific population such as ADHD kids or fine arts students or low-income children.

They are not funded with vouchers; they are not private schools. They are public schools with more local control, theoretically freed from the confines of bureacracy. Some have been successful and some have gone into bankruptcy. I believe the teachers and students are subject to the same certifications and tests that they would be at non-charter public schools.

[AlFrankenFan]

32. I see, thanks for the clarification n/t

[VoteDemocratic2004]

19. Can she teach her Daddy how to read?

What's that saying that learning starts in the home?

[Rose Siding]

21. Uncle Neil's in educational software

Maybe this is a stepping stone.

[Joanne98]

37. YEAH

Selling the software the teachers have to use for "No Child Left Behind". It should be called "NO Neil Left Behind". Isn't that something. No Dem will call them on it either.

[NervousRex]

24. Hardyharhar...

A charter(corporate) school, that will close as soon as she is bored with fuc*ing around there. These charter schools are garbage, and here is an example of what kind of criteria they use to choose teachers.....

[thebigidea]

25. and the other Bushgirl babbled some hooha about helping AIDS patients

uh huh. While we're at, I suppose I should let you all know that I intend on healing the sick next year.

[NervousRex]

26. Naw...

I think it was something about washing everyones feet...or annointing it with oil....I forget.

[Furity]

31. Exactly

I heard that report too. My first response was..who is making up this shit?

~Furity

[dolstein]

27. Hey Laura -- treating adults with result isn't a bad idea either

NT

[allalone]

29. but aren't teachers terra-ists?

the head of education said so, didn't he?

[goclark]

34. Hope the children 's parents don't read the Enquirer!

This is an insult to the children of Harlem!
There is no way that a school administrator should hire a known drunk,with pictures published nation wide, to teach disadvantage child. I would not hire Jenna Bush to teach ANY class of children any where.

What will she say during the interview? What can she say about being a role model?

I can just see a parent coming up to the school with a downloaded photo of Jenna on the sidewalk and Jenna on top of some other girl falling on the floor. I would hate to be the Principal at the first PTA meeting.

The folks I know in Harlem are not shy. Unless some miracle happens it will take just one Sister to go to the newspaper and tell them she wants her tuition back.

Jenna should keep working on her ChimpDad's campaign and then get a job in the Netherlands when he goes to the Hague. That way she can be real close to him and give him support in his time of need.

This Twin Needs To Be Left Behind!

[Joanne98]

35. Is it in "The Green Zone"?

[Whoa_Nelly]

36. Will Jenna have SS surrounding and following her

wherever she goes within the school?

[qanda]

49. Only for a few months

Because she'll lose her SS protection in January 2005 when John Kerry takes over as the next President of the United States.

[JusticeForAll]

39. IS OUR CHILDREN LEARNING?

oh lord.....heaven help us..

[jab105]

40. LOL, good luck with that...

I teach ninth grade, and I gotta say it isn't that easy...

But I admire her, teaching is a great profession!!

[Aidoneus]

41. At least somebody in that family will have a decent job in life, then

Hopefully she makes for a good teacher. That will set her off as the black sheep of the family, for being perhaps halfway decent.

[Jerseygirltoo]

43. Probably no teaching certificate needed

If its a private school. You definitely need one for the NYC school system.

[Hobarticus]

45. Yes, treat all children with respect...

Except Iraqi kids. They get cluster bombs and landmines.

I love Laura, she writes her own punchlines!

[gauguin57]

46. "Children ..."

"Now listen closely. Miss Jenna is going to teach you some very, very important things.

This is a PASSION-FRUIT Cosmopolitan.

THIS is an Apple-tini.

This is pure grain alcohol, and this is a Heineken.

See -- they are DIFFERENT. They look differnt. They taste different. Uh-oh, Jimmy is tossing his cookies.

Now, Children ... this is how you do freaky dancing with a guy you just met.

And this, children, is a BONG. Doesn't it make a musical sound? (gurgle gurgle gurgle ... pffffffewwwww).

Now, kids, let's read 'My Pet Goat.' It should take you no more than 7 minutes."

"CLASS DISMISSED."

[llmart]

53. Thanks for a laughing-out-loud start to my day!

You are too funny.

I have to leave for work now, but I'm glad I skimmed LBN for this early morning laugh.

P.S. The twins are just spouting this shit to try to erase their boozing image before the election. She'll probably "teach" for a year and then drop out.

[trogdor]

63. She'll probably "teach" for a year and then drop out.

...or however long it takes to get credentialed as a elementary school teacher when her other half runs for public office. Parade Magazine and Reader's Digest love to print stories like that about future Republican first ladies.

[progressivebydesign]

47. I'm sorry.. would YOU want her teaching your kids??

I mean.. drunken party girl, nothing more than a rich girl's degree (hard to study when you're puking all the time). And she's qualified to teach children? Charter schools... interesting idea. Public schools, yes they are.. but I honestly don't see how hiring mostly unqualified people to teach somehow betters the education. Charter schools, statistically don't do better than normal public schools, and often worse. Sounds like a dream for people wanting to bust the NEA. Though I appreciate the degrees people earn, there is a REASON why teachers must normally get teaching credentials, becaue teaching is about MORE than knowing a subject, it's about knowing children. It's about knowing how they learn. Charter school in Texas? Is that right? Gee.. wonder who arranged for that gig for her?

[crossroads]

48. What a crock...

:puke:

[Bridget Burke]

50. I'll applaud her decision...

After she's completed a year of full-time teaching; dropping by for an occasional photo op won't do. And after she has signed up for another year. And begins those night classes needed for real certification.

Although it's too bad she can't teach in Texas. Lots of kids here need help; we even have black & hispanic ones. But, in Houston especially, she'd be too close to the baleful eye of Grandma Barb. I just hope those evenings & weekends spent grading papers don't interfere with the fun of NYC.

[The Zanti Regent]

51. Is she going to emulate Mary Kay Le Tourneau?

I wouldn't be surprised!

[DrDan]

52. does this smack of KKKarl Rove to anyone else?

one of the twins teaching in Harlem?

the other working with AIDs victims?

give me a break

[sleepyhead]

54. my sentiments exactly

I nearly rolled my eyes out of my head when I read that.

[noonwitch]

55. I think it's good that she's going to be a teacher

Even if charter schools are not my cup of tea. Obviously, Jenna has grown up since her dad first took office and has made the choice to work in a field in which she will be making positive contributions to society. She could have gone into business or something that with her family connections, she could have made a lot of money doing.

[hatrack]

59. Jenna Bush To Teach Fourth Grade Until November 3rd

Who'd like to bet that she'll then suddenly discover that she has "other priorities"?

[Ruby Romaine]

62. Al Franken's daughter does that! Is that where Rove got the idea?

n/t

[Malva Zebrina]

72. Chelsea Clinton works in NY also

If Jenna is going to work in Harlem, she will have to live there in NY or close by in one of the burbs--she might choose Bedford Village or even Greenwich Conn --an easy commute

[Stockholm]

66. What´s a charter school? n/t

[The Animator]

67. Okay kids! today were going to learn...

...How to make a Long Island Iced Tea! And my sister came to visit, she has volunteered to taste test.

Just on a side note... she said she wanted to teach in Harlem. Hmmm... Clinton's Law Office is in Harlem...

[daleo]

68. This is just P.R. for the election

If Bush loses, she will probably quit in November. If Bush wins, she will probably quit in November. If there is a long recount again, she will have to stick it out until January.

[goclark]

73. It is an insult for her to set foot in the classroom for 1 day!

It is an insult to every minority child !
Jenna Bush, with her lack of morals, would not be acceptable in a school for the wealthy.

Send her to her own kind, don't have her ruin those who have suffered enough.

We need to really talk this up to the city of New York. Charles Rangel could handle this one.

[The Animator]

69. Ooooo! I have an idea!

Let's have MTV make a reality based TV show around this. Follow the pResidents daughter around her classroom to find out what life is really like for a teacher in Harlem. As long as they are not pressured by Karl Rove to leave out the really important stuff, like how obcenely underfunded the schools are. How difficult it is to actually live on a teachers salary, and how difficult it is to function as an educator with her father's "No child moves ahead" policy.

[Dr Fate]

70. "But the question we have to ask- Is our children learning?" n/t

n/t

[dflprincess]

74. So, if one of her students smarts off in class

will the Secret Service forcibly remove the child to a free speech zone?

[fortyfeetunder]

75. Really a lifestyle change?

After her years of irresponsible partying, fake IDs, etc, and endless partying, she really thinks she's ready for a lifestyle change and be an elementary school teacher?

Not that I don't think young people are capable of being teacher, I want to see more people out there in the profession. However, in Jenna's case, she doesn't appear to be someone I think could handle that responsibility and maintain the social lifestyle she seemed to be accustomed to, at least what's shown in the media.

Well Jenna, go for teaching, but watch out for those late night parties; if you can't say your ABC's the morning after bar-hopping, don't think you can teach others likewise.

.

[JSJ]

77. 'My Pet Goat' will be required reading in her class n/t