The American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE) must be doing something right. On the heels of its recent adoption by Florida and announcement of its inaugural class, an apparently vexed NEA resorted to calling ABCTE's alternative path to certification "a scheme," "a scam," and "a cause for concern" while labeling groups that have supported the project (including us) as "ultra-conservative" and "rogue."

Susan Carmon, described as an NEA expert on teacher quality, asserted that "the message ABCTE is sending to parents and policymakers is clear: you do not need any preparation to be a teacher. It is a low-skill occupation requiring only content knowledge." The posting claims that Idaho?one of five states to have adopted the American Board to date?only "sort of" adopted the new route because American Board teachers will be required to undergo two years of mentoring. No word yet on whether NEA Secretary-Treasurer Lily Eskelsen plans to release an American Board protest single. ("Hey, ho, American Board, if you're so smart why ya' need to be mentored.")