DeKALB | The Northern Illinois University Council debated a position paper about teacher preparations at Wednesday’s meeting.

“In the field of elementary education, this document suggests that all such teachers be required to major in a content area,” said Paul Stoddard, president of the Faculty Senate.

An additional major would require 30 extra credit hours, or another year of study, for completion. Stoddard said the document is intended to spark debate, and any of its contents would require significant deliberation before any of it would “see the light of day.”

“While we’re doing a good job preparing teachers, it never hurts to see how we can do it better,” Stoddard said.

Chris Sorensen, dean of the College of Education, said systems similar to the one proposed in the paper already exist in California and Virginia. Sorensen said the teachers in California admitted they were better at teaching the subject they majored in, but didn’t perform as well in the subjects they didn’t major in.

“Some of the assumptions drawn [in the position paper] go far beyond the data that exists about teacher education,” Sorensen said.

Stoddard also spoke about the Illinois Board of Higher Education’s concerns with “physical presence” in the classroom in relation to distance and online learning. Stoddard said the board may push for institutions operating in Illinois to maintain some sort of physical presence in the state. Stoddard said this would make it difficult for out-of-state online schools to be accredited in Illinois.