Rating Professors

* Bravo! Bravo! I read with great interest the article concerning students rating professors on the Internet at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (March 14). I read evaluations of professors whom I know teach at Cal Poly SLO and whom I know personally. Most evaluations from the students were on the mark.

What has really concerned me over the years, though, is how it is mandatory for educators to have a teaching credential in order to instruct in primary and secondary education institutions (grammar, middle and high schools). However, when it comes to the community college, California State University or the University of California education systems, no teaching credential is necessary.

People who do teach in these institutions of higher learning may possibly know how to do research along with some critical thinking. A master’s or doctoral degree does not evaluate how a person is able to teach at the college and university levels.

I sure wish that the Cal Poly SLO evaluations had been available before I sent my daughter to a university that prides itself on teaching students when, like other universities, it needs to clean house and get people who really care and know how to teach.

THOMAS W. KEENEY

Whittier