Daft
Primary school teachers are responsible for teaching the entire curriculum - would you have them gain a degree in every single subject, in order to teach the very basics?

I believe the qualifications requirements are higher if you wish to teach A-level - I'd not swear to it, but I'm reasonably confident you always need to be at least one level of qualification above those you're teaching.

Finally, teaching is its own skill. I've got degrees, industry qualifications, etc - and by your (lack of) reasoning this should make me a better teacher than any of teh teachers I see every day. It doesn't - because teaching, imparting knowledge, is entirely different from retaining knowledge. It's its own skill, and one I don't have - whereas the teachers I work with do. They connect with the kids, make the lessons interesting, engaging, and most of all - memorable. I'd write it down on a chalk-board and make them copy it on slates.

You can't automatically teach, simply because you know your subject - and furthermore, once one has acquired the ability to teach, it's fairly simple to bone up on the actual curriculum you'll be teaching. It's not very in-depth.
( Happy Phantom has been to Hastings, Brighton, and Eastbourne too, Thu 15 Jul 2010, 9:13, Reply)