Certification is hardly pie-in-the-sky thinking. And it could actually be the most important thing to revitalizing grammar in all areas. It provides a reasoned and professional manner to improve the skills in the teacher while at the same time giving him some proof of his acumen and efforts. We are more likely to see a proliferation of such certificates and a need for them to be judged in a manner similar to accreditation that we are to see them disappear. Schools need new programs to sharpen them up, give new people something to do and so on. This is valuable for the community and could even be profitable for the institute.

We also need to worry about the need for the ATEG scope and sequence committee may become obviated by beautiful examples like the Indiana school system.

That being said, tougher grammar requirements on the PRAXIS, CBEST, and so on is a very good suggestion.

A separate certification in grammar is pie-in-the-sky thinking. Rather, it would be more logical to try to make grammar become a stronger, sturdier leg in the English/Language Arts certification requirements in all 50 states (through more grammar testing on Praxis exams, for example) and require more rigorous grammar instruction for future English teachers.