Blog Post #14

In the article Teaching Can Be a Profession, by Joel Klein, Klein states many problems that we encounter with today's educators. He is asked "If you could change one thing, what would it be?" He states some things that he wishes he could change, but the one thing he is very certain should be changed is that way we pick our teachers. He says that we need to "professioinalize teaching." He then states ways to make teaching more professional. They are:

• Better academic training 
• New approach for recruiting teachers
• Change how we reward teachers

Klein then states the ways to solve these problems:

• Have better programs that provide "solid" preparation for the teachers
• National Teacher Examination and Evaluation every 3 years
• Like other countries, pick the top 3rd of our graduates
• Teachers should create their own board to police their profession
• Develop a demanding "knowledge base"

My thoughts:

I honestly can say that I do agree with Klein and his beliefs. These are some problems that need to be looked at and fixed. I think that it would be very beneficial to have better academic training for prospective teachers. They want to be future educators, so it is adement that they have proper training and proper knowledge. Learning different ways to teach things and learning how to use technology tools would be a way of training the future teachers. 

I think that it takes a special kind to be a teacher, so I think that a new approach for recruiting teachers is an excellent idea. Why should a really bad school in a poor area have "bad" teachers? Or, why should a really good school in a great area have "bad" teachers. There should be no such thing as a "bad" teacher. That is why not just anyone with a degree should be allowed to be a teacher. Those with an education degree should be allowed to teach. We have to take many courses on studying how a child learns or behaves, so why should someone who got a degree in business be allowed to teach a math class?

Finally, I think that just because you have been teaching longer than the other teacher down the hall, should not put you on a "caste" system. I don't think that layoffs should automatically effect a new teacher. It should effect the ones who have done a poor job of teaching. Let the new teachers have time to really get in the flow of things and figure out what is the best way for THEM to teach. Overall, I enjoyed reading this article. It kind of opened my eyes to different ways that the education system could be bettered. Hopefully these points Klein made will be put into consideration.