What makes good teachers: traditional training or experience in the fields they teach?

Utah senators spent more than a half hour debating that question Thursday before giving preliminary approval to SB48. The bill would allow people with bachelor's degrees to become licensed teachers by passing competency tests in the subjects they wish to teach and/or demonstrating skills in those areas. Now, most people who lack education degrees but want to become teachers must get approval from the districts in which they hope to teach and then pass subject and pedagogy tests. They may also go through an alternate process that requires them to take education classes before becoming fully licensed, among other things.

SB48 would allow individuals to go directly to the state Board of Education to become licensed and would not require pedagogy classes or tests.

Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, who is sponsoring the bill, said it would help alleviate the teacher shortage and bring people with real-world experience into the classroom.

"I know a lot of guys who have retired and are absolutely fabulous and would make wonderful teachers because they understand the marketplace," Buttars said. "This is long past due."

Some lawmakers opposed the bill, saying it takes more to teach than knowledge of a subject.

"This bill really is an insult to education," said Sen. Ross Romero, D-Salt Lake City. "Teachers have a skill set that is unique, developed and is nurtured and trained. I think this bill expands the profession of teaching into a hobby of teaching."

Sen. Daniel Liljenquist, R-Bountiful, spoke in support of the bill, saying schools would still have discretion not to hire people if they don't think they're ready.

Sen. Brent Goodfellow, D-West Valley City, said he'd have no problem with the bill if it only applied to those with real world experience wishing to teach specialized subjects, such as marketing. But anyone teaching basic elementary school subjects, such as reading, needs training.

"Teaching reading is not something you just pick up," Goodfellow said. "You need to learn the pedagogy, the teaching methods."

The bill requires a bachelor's degree and passing a "rigorous" state test to teach elementary school. Anyone wishing to teach basic middle school and high school subjects would also need at least a bachelor's degree and would either need to pass a state test or demonstrate competency in the subject with a major, graduate degree or coursework.

Teaching specialized classes would require at least a bachelor's degree, associates degree or skill certification, as well as suitable skills, talents and abilities as determined by the board of education rules.

The state board is neutral on the bill, but Buttars followed board recommendations for some of the bill's wording.

The Utah Education Association spoke against the bill in committee, saying teachers need education training.

Ultimately, senators passed the bill Thursday, 17-11, on second reading. The Senate must approve the bill one more time before it goes to the House.