Thoughts On “Teacher Training Is Panned”
I apologize in advance for this rant but this article hit home for me.
I graduated from Princetion in the early 90s with a New Jersey teaching certificate. Princeton doesn’t have a teacher education program in the traditional sense. You couldn’t take loads of pedagogy courses even if you wanted to. Instead, I recall taking just two courses that were specifically aimed at aspiring teachers (one of which was effectively a group therapy session that occurred during our student teaching semester). The true test was student teaching. I spent a semester teaching four remedial classes in the Trenton area. It was one of the most challenging kristen stewart and robert pattinson rewarding experiences of my life. Unfortunately, as a student teacher, you aren’t forced to open your eyes very wide to the bureacracies that govern the schools.
Upon moving back to the Pacific NW after graduation, I began interviewing for jobs. Or trying to interview. It seems that wasting away as a substitute teacher for a few years is almost a requirement for even getting interviews in most schools (at least out here). During my first year out here, I did actually manage to land one informal interview with a system in the Seattle area during a teaching career fair. Within the first minute of the interview, I was asked how I, as an Ivy League graduate, felt I would be able to lower my expectations to the level required of a high school teacher. Unfortunately, it soon became clear to me that the interviewer was entirely serious in his questioning (I initially thought it was some sort of test of my character). Soon thereafter, I moved down to the Portland area, where I was told that given my unorthodox training, I would need a graduate degree to get a position (even a substitute position).
I have no regrets about the educational course I took. I wasted precious few credit hours on mind numbing teaching methology classes and had the time of my life actually getting up in front of the students (when I was given the opportunity). Additionally, the need to speak extemporaneously when asked questions by students (even simple questions) prepared me well for law school (which was almost relaxing in comparison). As I enter my 13th year of a highly rewarding law practice, I realize with some sadness that I am now all but unemployable by any school system.
My rant above may appear to be focused on the schools only but that it not the extent of the problem. Much of this country has adopted the stance that children can be sent to school and be expected to magically come out as aspiring scholars with little or not support at home. This isn’t how things work. At least this isn’t how things work if you want your kids to learn anything. However, if parents don’t (or can’t) provide significant support, school districts are all too willing to become glorified baby sitters who will dutifully give your kids passing grades (without teaching them much, if anything) so long as they can collect their paychecks. Read up on Leonard Isenberg’s experience in the Los Angeles Unified School District to see what can happen when this sickness truly takes hold (google is your friend here).
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