Let me just start this by saying, I do in fact have some conflicting opinions on this issue...and yes, my husband is going to point those out.
Well here is the deal as I understand it, and lets face it there are easier things to understand than the goals of the Indiana DOE. What is coming is a change in the state's requirements for teachers and administrator's. My biggest concern, being a non-traditional teacher myself, is the administrative change. As I see it, we could use some revamping of the current system. Not all of our administrator's are qualified or effective. My administration seems to be a large exception to this rule as I feel our principal and several of the AP's are very good at what they do. My concern is that they are cut off in their effectiveness by their higher ups...but I digress....
Future administrator's would simply have to take a "leadership test" to be placed in the schools. The biggest issue I have with many of our current administrator's is the lack of time in the classroom...you can only imagine how that will change when they only have to take a test to get in the door. I also have great concern over the idea of someone with absolutely NO educational training what so ever being in charge of a classroom. This being said I acknowledge that there are some seriously kick ass home school mama's out there! However, there are some seriously bad ones too. Same in the classroom, and how is someone who simply took a "leadership test" qualified to evaluate those teachers?
I went back to school to get my teaching license and I am glad that I did it that way. I feel I have a much broader world view and am more experienced in my field. That being said, I teach theater not science. I also took several education courses at the graduate level and I gained a wealth of knowledge regarding the history of education and the cultural and social impact of education on America . This knowledge is IMPORTANT to have when in front of students.
Finally , I question the motives of a state superintendant of schools who wants to allow untrained educators into the classroom. I agree that we need a complete overhaul, but we need to be careful who we allow in the door. Perhaps the state superintendant is interested in opening a pathway for those who share is belief system rather than those who care about the future of our kids. The state superintendant of schools had been on the front page of this website as the keynote speaker for their convention in September. Funny how his name has suddenly disappeared as the revamp of licensing requirements draws near.
3 comments:
I'm one of those Kick-ass homeschool mommas (thank you very much) and your biggest fan. I'm also a huge supporter of free public education.
I agree, if you are going to teach in the public school system, you have to have an understanding of how to teach within that system and should have some training. I won't talk anymore about the "system" and it's need for an overhaul. But...
I will say that most public school teachers, who are truly dedicated to teaching their students often get the short end of the stick.
Very interesting, Carrie! That's crazy that all would be needed would be to take a leadership test. Back when I got my driver's license in Indiana (when I was 16...you remember!)- if you had an A on the written test in Driver's Ed, you didn't have to actually take a driving test to get your license. I got an A on the written test, didn't have to take the driving (experience) test, and crashed my car 6 weeks later. You get the analogy?! You've got to have experience to really know what you're doing!
I hope they work it out and come to their senses soon. California's public school system is also going through some "interesting" changes...it's strange to be in the position where I'll be sending my child to school soon. It makes me so much more interested in these issues than I ever thought I would be...
Made my day ;)
AS I am sure you know I do not believe that the best teachers are those that took a traditional "education program" route on the other hand there is much much more to being a public school teacher than teaching. Some might go so far as to say that most of what a teacher does has not anything to do with teaching. Therefore while I firmly believe that any of the best teachers around took the "non traditional route" to teaching I also feel that when you are talking about teaching MANY children (with many parents) within a large system that there can only be benefit to having some sort of training to help you understand how the SYSTEM in which you work functions. I think many a fantastic teacher have been stopped in their tracks by a lack of understanding of how the "school game" is played. I think even if the course is shorter than is now necessary that some introduction and training in dealing with a large class, dealing with parents, grading etc is essential.
I am , of course, completely opposed the the regulation of homeschooling but I think homeschooling is very different model than institutional schooling. If a homeschool does not work it hampers the education of one student maybe two or three. If a teacher in a school does not know what they are doing they have the opportunity to hinder the development of upwards of a hundred students a year. In addition I firmly believe in a parents right to direct their child's education. In a homeschool environment a parent makes the choices and thus holds the full responsibility for failure. If a parent sends their child to a school and a teacher who does not know how to handle a class is teaching , regardless of their other teaching merits, than at some level the school and the overarching administration bear the responsibility for that failure. At some level we all, as tax payers, hold a part of that responsibility.
That responsibility is pretty awesome when you think about it - and not to be taken lightly. On the other hand (with me there seems to ALWAYS be another hand) if the system is broken why not try something new? On the third hand (I have more hands on most issues than shiva) might the education of the children be a bit too important for huge system wide experimentation?
All of my hands are getting too tired to continue typing but there is no doubt this a question for the ages that could go on and on.........
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