Teachers in many states must accumulate professional development credits to maintain their certification, but those who pushed hard for a recently-enacted recertification program in Illinois were horrified to learn that some teachers are satisfying this requirement by taking courses in Tai Chi, massage, and gambling (conducted at a racetrack, no less). A Chicago Tribune article blames the state bureaucracy and the compromises demanded by teacher unions for the flaws in the system. State officials have no power to reject professional development courses (which are approved by union-dominated committees) and don't even have a list of the classes being offered. See "Teacher reforms veering off track," by Stephanie Banchero, Chicago Tribune, August 12, 2001, http://chicagotribune.com/templates/misc/printstory.jsp?slug=chi%2D0108120399aug12)
