joyce on fri 4 jan 08
Though it isn't a cardinal rule in California, the last high school where
I worked always sought a candidate with a Masters in the subject area. I
served on many interview committees observing that this requirement was
consistent for all departments ........... except for Regional Occupational
Programs. (In the latter case recent successful work experience carried the
most weight. Subjects were Health Careers, Photography, Retail Merchandising
etc.) Our art teachers all had Masters degrees as well as a second subject
in which they were qualified to teach. Pay was good and benefits were
outstanding, but when there were cutbacks, you know the drill; visual and
performing arts were dropped first. The art teachers then could move into
their second teaching subject while they
awaited
an ending to The Crisis, which might take years to resolve.
However, Snail is on the mark when she says that when it gets closer to Opening
Day and a position is not filled, requirements may change. When the bell
rings, a teacher must be in the classroom. Panic reigns otherwise. Usually,
though, those become temporary positions.
Joyce
In the Mojave desert of California where we're being promised RAIN. We've
had the overcast for a few days as well as cooler weather........ the clouds
could even be seen to leak rain....... but all evaporated before hitting the
sand. Drat.
Ivor and Olive Lewis on sat 5 jan 08
Joyce,
Your comments about the need to fill the position and have someone in =
front of a class on the first day of term struck a chord << When the =
bell rings, a teacher must be in the classroom. Panic reigns otherwise. =
>>
Sixteen years after retiring from the classroom I am still plagued by =
dreams of arriving new at a school. No timetable ! No class lists ! No =
syllabus or teaching programme ! No plan of the school ! And the final =
insult...Every toilet block is either out of order or there are queues a =
mile long.
My own opinion is that a BFA is not adequate preparation for a teaching =
career. Having been in schools that employed MSc's and PhD's I would =
suggest that a post graduate degree in the Practice and Theories of =
Teaching and Education is essential considering the complexity of =
Educational Institutions and the political and legal constraint imposed =
on those employed to staff them.
Best regards,
Ivor.
Ps. I arrived in Oz a week or so after the start of a new academic year. =
The school was on a temporary timetable. Staffing was still in a state =
of flux. Every lesson change was chaotic. There was an Acting Principal. =
Thirty percent of the staff had just graduated. Many faculty heads were =
newly promoted. At the age of 41 I was the oldest member of staff. The =
rumour went round the school like a wildfire.... I was the New =
Principal..... The second year was a breeze=20
Sean Burns on sat 5 jan 08
On Fri, 4 Jan 2008 16:19:41 -0800, joyce wrote:
>Though it isn't a cardinal rule in California, the last high school where
>I worked always sought a candidate with a Masters in the subject area.
I teach art/ceramics in Massachusetts and have also recently hired an
art teacher this year. We do look for Masters with art ed- but I hired a
bfa with education requirements taken care of with the state mandated MA
art ed degree to happen within 5 years. The person who previously had the
job left becouse the time ran out on obtaining the masters degree and we
could only keep them as a long term sub until the degree was obtained-
They left for a job in a "high need" area that was not required to
hire "highly qualified" teachers and was able to get all benies teachers
get- complicated. This individual had a BFA with no ed background - just
didnt get the masters in time- so its possible in Massachusetts.
Often long term subs are needed- I saw one next town over this fall for
"ceramic instructor" believe it or not.- high school- full time. No benies
on that deal though.
In this state "charter schools" are not required to hire teachers with
state liscensure- and of course private schools are an option.
Me - I have a BFA Illustration-I left my advertising job - got my MAE
then got a teaching job- been there since- 14 years. Couldnt have done it
without my wife though.
Good luck,
Sean Burns
Williamsburg, Ma
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