Blog Post #14

Teaching can be a profession by Joel Klein

Issues:

• Seniority
• Professionalizing teaching

Solutions:

• Giving more options to families in regards to schools
• Using more technology
• Starting school for kids earlier than age 5
• Adopting a knowledge based curriculum

1. When Mr. Klein was asked what he would change in schools today he responded with four key points. The first, families are entitled to more options and it plays a major role in how students are educated. Parents will not always chose convenience or the closest in proximity to their home. Parents was the schools with the best ratings and reputations. Next, technology is a growing necessity for teaching and learning in the classroom. In EDM 310, as well from the many speeches from Dr. Strange, students are not going to learn the same way we did. The technological world changes rapidly an advancements are made daily. Students and teachers need to have access to these technologies to better the learning environment. Then, schools need to adopt more knowledge-based learning for students. This provides a more content based learning and gives the students more opportunity to gain the mot out of their lessons. Lastly, starting students in school before the age of 5 has already been enacted in schools around the world and has proven to be worth it for their growth. The schools doing this are adding lessons into their daycares. It is an optional thing for parents with that option. These are all of the issues Mr. Klein has stated that exist in the education system today.

2. Professionalizing teaching is another point he wanted to touch on. Holding teachers to the same standard that doctors and lawyers are held to would improve the overall environment and performances out of teachers. A way to make this even better he stated that the top third from the graduating classes should even become educators. Just having a degree in education should not be the only deciding factor in becoming a teacher. This would showcase the educator who strived to be the best and bring the most knowledge to the table for their students. Personalities of teachers matters as well. A teacher should be humble and outgoing with their students to have better more content based interactions. He even made a note about teachers' rewards being changed.

3. Seniority is a major problem in the education system. I agree wholeheartedly. The effectiveness of an educator is not always determined with the years of service they possess. The "Police" system from Shanker I do not believe would solve the problem. Testing teachers on an aptitude exam to get the job wouldn't solve this. Educators have to pass our own exams before even leaving our respected universities. I believe the depth of a teacher's lesson and how they bring it across to a classroom with an evaluator in the room would bring about a more fruitful tell of their teaching capabilities.

Conclusion: Some ideas, not all, could propose an option towards bettering the education system. I believe teachers are not given the respect or professional respect that doctors and lawyers are given. They are treated less or as a not so serious profession due to the lack of high pay they receive. One thing my parents (both teachers) always told me, "You never become a teacher for the pay. You become a teacher because you have the drive to improve the lives of the youth and leaders of tomorrow. You want to make an impact on the next generation." I don't believe seniority should play a factor when looking for a job. Only the most qualified educators should be employed.