ST. PAUL, Minn. – A likely rule change for aspiring educators in Minnesota could make the state’s teaching roster a little more diverse – and probably a lot less competent, as well.

The Minnesota House Education Committee is considering a repeal of a state test that ensures wannabe teachers possess college-level reading, writing and math skills before entering the classroom, TwinCities.com reports.

Currently, prospective teachers in Minnesota have to pass the basic skills test, demonstrate mastery in the subjects they teach, and pass a classroom performance exam, reports the news site.

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Those certainly seem like reasonable criteria.

The basic skills test has only been around for two years, but critics have charged that it’s “culturally biased” and “hindering efforts to bring more diversity to Minnesota’s teaching force,” TwinCities.com reports.

They also contend the exam is unfair to teaching candidates who have disabilities.

Critics want to replace the skills test with some sort of hazy, new accountability system in which the Minnesota Board of Teaching would work with colleges and universities to guarantee that all teacher college graduates are classroom-ready.

While lawmakers have not made a final decision, the reporting of this issue gives the impression that the debate is nearly over and skills test is very nearly toast.

“This is the repeal of a test, but not the repeal of accountability,” said Christopher Smith, a college professor who served on the state-appointed task force that studied the issue. “Accountability is not going away; it is just going to look different.”

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Call us skeptical, but that sounds like just another smoke-and-mirrors attempt by government officials to trick taxpayers into believing a problem is being addressed when it’s really being ignored.

Passing a skills test produces concrete proof that a hopeful teacher has the academic chops to make it in the classroom. That kind of assurance can’t be replicated by a few sentences in a college handbook or a few pieces of paper in a bureaucrat’s file.

For decades, Americans have foolishly been relying on those in charge of the nation’s teacher colleges to weed out the subpar, lazy and morally deficient from gaining access to the education profession.

A quick look at the state of the nation’s public schools shows those “gatekeepers” have done a terrible job. An alarming number of U.S. classrooms are being led by incompetent, ineffective or immoral educators. (Consider this the obligatory disclaimer that the majority of teachers are quality individuals who are doing an amazing job in difficult circumstances.)

If Minnesota lawmakers decide to nix the basic skills test – something 42 other states reportedly already have in place – they will only help to ensure that many K-12 schools will remain mediocre or worse.

These people are willing to sacrifice education quality at the altar of political correctness.

A teacher’s race should not make any difference to anyone.  A teacher’s competence should be the bottom line.

If lawmakers are willing to ignore competence to attract more teachers of color, it’s clear that students are not their first priority.

The parents and taxpayers of Minnesota have a right to be outraged. It will be interesting to see if they let this ridiculous decision pass without protest.