New program will certify language experts as teachers (fwd link)

[Phillip E Cash Cash]

New program will certify language experts as teachers

By Cindy Yurth
Tséyi' Bureau

CHINLE, September 6, 2012

No Child Left Behind requires that classroom teachers be certified.

This seems like a reasonable requirement, until one considers Native
American tribes trying to impart their languages in the schools.

In that case, most of the experts — in some tribes, the only fluent
language speakers still around — are not certified teachers.

To sidestep this barrier, the Arizona State Board of Education last week
approved a policy to allow tribes to certify speakers of their own
languages to teach in public and BIE-funded schools.

Although the Navajo Nation is fortunate to have many credentialed teachers
in Navajo language and culture programs, the new policy is welcome news,
said Navajo Superintendent of Schools Andrew M. Tah.

"We have lots of elders around who have a lot of knowledge," Tah said.
"They could be an asset to the schools."

Access full article below:
http://www.navajotimes.com/education/2012/0912/090612cer.php
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