Maybe I’m wrong, but isn’t removing the basic skills test for new teachers a bad idea? The teachers union of NJ has been pushing this idea for a long time, supposedly in the name of “equity”, but isn’t the purpose of a test in reading writing and math skills necessary to determine if the teacher knows those subjects thoroughly? I realize there is a shortage of teachers, but this sounds like a shortcut to more union members and more union dues in my opinion. Why are so many teachers leaving is perhaps the more important question. Teachers should never be used as political pawns.