Blog Assignment #14

Blog Assignment #14

Teaching Can Be A Profession By: Joel Klein

Problems/Solutions

1. Recruiting teachers - pick from the best
2. Seniority vs Quality
3. Teacher standards

1. I am unaware of the demand for teachers but if they have the cushion to be able to be "picky" then I definitely agree with this problem/solution. I do feel however that most of the top recruiting should be regulated after the teacher has been teaching in the classroom. I say this because I feel you could have the best grades in your class and still not be an effective teacher. Having good grades and knowing the material is important also but it's what you do in the classroom and how you deliver the material that makes all the difference. I have only been in the elementary education program at the University of South Alabama for a semester now but I do feel like I am getting quality training. If they only chose from the top third of graduates then what would happen to the rest of the students that put hard work, time, and money into an education. Just like I stated above, just because you graduate in the top of your class does not mean you will be a good teacher.

2. I definitely agree with problem/solution number two. Just because someone has been at a job the longest does not mean they are better at the job than 1st year teachers. I do believe that veteran educators should be rewarded for their service, time, and loyalty to the job but I believe more that teachers who deserve it should get rewarded. I have witnessed two types of teachers in my grade school and college days. There are the teachers that hate their job and puts little or no effort into their teaching and then there are the effective teachers that are passionate about their students and their job. It is unjustifiable that these two types of teachers are rewarded and get paid the same amount. I also feel that it is groundless that when there are layoffs, in most cases, they have to terminate the most recently hired. Wouldn't teachers try more if they were "graded" on quality? Incentive is also another issue. Everyone works to make a living and the more, the better. If you could make more by doing a better job then wouldn't you try harder? Why would these teachers try harder if they weren't going to get rewarded for it and make the same as teachers who put in more time and effort? Unfortunately that's just the way most people think.

3. I do believe it is a good idea for teachers to establish their own board to police the profession. Who knows better than fellow teachers on who is incompetent and who is effective? I know in every job I have ever had I could tell you who was a hard worker and who did the bare minimum to get a paycheck. I could observe this because I worked side by side of these people almost everyday. The "boss" never had time to actually observe to see who was doing their job and who wasn't. By establishing a teacher board, coworkers could express their concerns and frustrations about their fellow educators. As long as there are established standards and rules I feel like this would be a good idea for all schools.

In conclusion, I agree with what this article represents. Teachers are underestimated and unappreciated. There definitely needs to be some big changes in the world of educators. Teachers are here, first and foremost, for the students and to provide them with the best education possible. Some regulations and adjustments need to be made in order for this to happen. The students who get the teachers who do the bare minimum are not getting a fair opportunity at their education. It is up to us and our future to actually make a difference.

Callie Barton