This article on how poorly education departments prepare teachers confirms what I've already known for years. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that many administrators also know this and will preferentially hire uncertified teachers (when regulations allow it) to avoid the baggage of teacher education school training! It's nice to know that some of the people in charge did not drink the Kool-Aide.

I've know this ever since my wife became a certified teacher. I would estimate that about 30% of the classes are useful, 30% are a waste of time, and 30% are mind poison (extreme multiculturalism to the point of denigrating all things Western, extreme constructivism and student-centered teaching to the point of denying objective reality, etc...).

I am not certified but I may have to bite this bullet if I can't get full-time work at private school or community college (I currently teach adjunct at more than one college). Maryland is one of the strictest states with regards to the certification requirement in public schools. Due to family reasons moving out of this state is not an option for the near future.