JOYCE LEE on wed 12 jul 06
It's true, Ivor, that in the U. S. more courses in How To Teach are
required for the kindergarten through Middle School teachers. They
generally need to arrive on the scene with such training. =20
However, secondary teachers for many years now have also received
similar training. The difference is that, other than their couple of
semesters as Student Teachers which can be incredibly enriching
(mine were!) or pretty much of a wasted experience, the secondary
teachers now receive training throughout their career in many states.
Some of the training is in the form of formal courses from institutions
of higher learning. These courses are taken in order to renew =
credentials
with the State Departments of Education every 5 to maybe 7 years.
The major change during my career was when the school districts chose
to either offer workshops (on work days, showing that the district did
indeed value this training.) for all the district's or a school's or a =
grade
level's teachers. They usually run a few a year so the training is =
indeed
ongoing. The greatest benefit was that ALL teachers were trained=20
simultaneously so that they possessed a body of shared knowledge that =
stimulated=20
conversation and growth. There was teacher-resistance..... many =
professing
that they had a degree, maybe a master's and a teaching license which =
they
heartily believed was sufficient for a lifetime of teaching. Frankly, =
these were
in my observation, usually the lesser performing teachers. I personally =
never
attended a workshop or a class on education that I didn't bring =
something
away..... usually something valuable that continues to affect the manner =
in
which I handle my Daily Life.
Universities glommed onto this new way of doing business immediately and
began to offer workshops that offered up-to-date information, well =
presented,
on their site or the district's.... AND teachers were able to Go Out Of =
Town!!
with their friends ... and learn in a teacher-friendly environment.... =
eating OUT!!
having lunch like normal folks. I attended several of those week-long =
fests
myself. Fun?? Yes. Informative?? You bet. Our instructors were =
incredible,
wonderful models for what they were teaching. AND...... can you believe =
it?....
we were given Follow Up workshops also. Wow. Our self-respect as
professionals grew regularly.
Some states managed to meet the controversy about financial =
responsibility
being misused .... Head On.... with states often rated at the bottom of =
most any
scale of criteria as to their effectiveness as educators..... rising to =
the top.
Truly..... from the bottom to the top. Some feelings were hurt, yes, =
but the
goal was to have an effective, exciting teacher in each and every =
classroom.
Did that happen? Not yet, but the pursuit continues.........
The controversy continues and California hasn't fared too well in =
overall
ratings ..... but from my seat in the midst of things as a teacher and =
later as
an administrator.... and now as a Retired Interested Bystander who
occasionally has participated in presenting the workshops. ....... it's =
all
good, and education is improving. There are now all sorts of methods =
for
getting the best results.... including home schools....=20
Joyce
In the Mojave desert of California where it's way too hot........
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