Politics of Competence: A Review of Competency-Based Teacher Education.

This document consists of three parts. Part one is Merrow's review, with political emphasis, of competency-based teacher education (CBTE). This article a) examines the origins of CBTE; b) presents a definition of CBTE; c) outlines some of CBTE's problems; d) looks at CBTE specifically in California, Texas, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New York; and e) describes the search for a "rational center." The article stresses the point that issues concerning CBTE are larger than CBTE's "Mechanistic" or "humanistic" nature. It claims that the major issue is a labor-management one, and that questions about CBTE are no longer educational, but political. Part two includes nine reactions to the article in part one. These reactions are from both proponents and opponents of CBTE; educators at local, state, and national levels; and students who have completed CBTE programs. Part three consists of Merrow's response to the criticisms. A bibliography is included. (PB)