Latest News and Comment from Education

Saturday, May 31, 2014

Don’t Make Students Wait | Live Long and Prosper

Don’t Make Students Wait | Live Long and Prosper:



Don’t Make Students Wait

Teachers need to be trained before-the-job…not on-the-job.
The Indiana State Board of Education has a plan, approved by a 6-5 vote, to allow non-credentialed college graduates to teach in public school classrooms.The Career Specialist Permit will provide pedagogical training on-the-job.
SUCCESSFUL COUNTRIES DO IT RIGHT
In successful countries teachers are not trained on-the-job for teaching. They are experts in pedagogy first…before they’re allowed to enter the classroom. The Indiana State Board of Education is attempting to reduce the qualificationsfor becoming a teacher in Indiana. A slim majority of school board members favor allowing anyone with a college degree to teach. This is not education “reform.” It’s an ignorant attempt to destroy the teaching profession.
…in Finland, primary teachers are required to both major in education and minor in two subjects taught in primary education. Primary education is usually considered grades one through eight, depending on the country. Upper-level teachers are required to major in the subject they will teach. If a person has a master’s degree in a specific subject only, the person must get a master’s degree in education before teaching. All teachers spend significant time studying pedagogy, the art and science of teaching. [emphasis added]
One of Indiana’s school board members claims that, while the new rule would allow schools to hire people with no teaching credentials, no one is being forced to. He claims that the outcry about the new rule has been “overstated” and “the Don’t Make Students Wait | Live Long and Prosper: