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The problem with this notion is that elementary school teachers need to be generalists; subjects don't really start getting "split" subjectively (with different

The problem with this notion is that elementary school teachers need to be generalists; subjects don't really start getting "split" subjectively (with different teachers) until middle and high school. [Edit] Citation FTA: A new study suggests that elementary school may be a breeding ground for this anxiety. The study found that when elementary school teachers, who are primarily female, displayed a high level of anxiety about math, that skittishness was transmitted to their female students.

bitwize 17y ago
It still holds: an adult who lacks confidence in his/her ability to do +-*/ on multi-digit numbers and fractions should not be teaching the subject to elementary-school-aged kids.
- jimmyjim 17y ago
  I think the sad truth is just that there's a substantial shortage of competent elementary school teachers in the supply pool. Yes, they struggle even with such simple arithmetic tasks (speaking from my experience at public schools).
  - wisty 17y ago
    Pay them more, and offer a promotion path, and you will get better candidates.
    - eru 17y ago
      That may help. Offering more prestiges may be cheaper. The Economist had a piece (sourced by studies by some consultancies) that investigated the most important factors that determine the success of education systems around the world. Attracting good teachers was among the most important factor. But as far as I remember high pay did not work as well as high prestige. (South Korea seemed to have a knack for conferring high prestige on their elementary school teachers. They have strict entry requirements for studying to become a teacher --- and usually only take in as many students as they forecast to need as teachers in a few years.) [Everything written from memory. If somebody can find the article (or other sources), please post it here. Thanks!]
tokenadult 17y ago
subjects don't really start getting "split" subjectively (with different teachers) until middle and high school. That's a mistake of the system in the United States. In many other countries, teachers specialize by subject in the elementary grades, the better to teach their subject effectively. See Knowing and Teaching Elementary Mathematics: Teachers' Understanding of Fundamental Mathematics in China and the United States http://www.amazon.com/Knowing-Teaching-Elementary-Mathematics-Understanding/dp/0805829091 http://www.amazon.com/Knowing-Teaching-Elementary-Mathematic... for a detailed discussion of elementary math teaching, or The Teaching Gap: Best Ideas from the World's Teachers for Improving Education in the Classroom http://www.amazon.com/Teaching-Gap-Improving-Education-Classroom/dp/1439143137/ http://www.amazon.com/Teaching-Gap-Improving-Education-Class... for a broader perspective on other ways to organize schools.

bitwize 17y ago

It still holds: an adult who lacks confidence in his/her ability to do +-*/ on multi-digit numbers and fractions should not be teaching the subject to elementary-school-aged kids.

jimmyjim 17y ago
I think the sad truth is just that there's a substantial shortage of competent elementary school teachers in the supply pool. Yes, they struggle even with such simple arithmetic tasks (speaking from my experience at public schools).
- wisty 17y ago
  Pay them more, and offer a promotion path, and you will get better candidates.
  - eru 17y ago
    That may help. Offering more prestiges may be cheaper. The Economist had a piece (sourced by studies by some consultancies) that investigated the most important factors that determine the success of education systems around the world. Attracting good teachers was among the most important factor. But as far as I remember high pay did not work as well as high prestige. (South Korea seemed to have a knack for conferring high prestige on their elementary school teachers. They have strict entry requirements for studying to become a teacher --- and usually only take in as many students as they forecast to need as teachers in a few years.) [Everything written from memory. If somebody can find the article (or other sources), please post it here. Thanks!]

tokenadult 17y ago

subjects don't really start getting "split" subjectively (with different teachers) until middle and high school. That's a mistake of the system in the United States. In many other countries, teachers specialize by subject in the elementary grades, the better to teach their subject effectively. See Knowing and Teaching Elementary Mathematics: Teachers' Understanding of Fundamental Mathematics in China and the United States http://www.amazon.com/Knowing-Teaching-Elementary-Mathematics-Understanding/dp/0805829091 http://www.amazon.com/Knowing-Teaching-Elementary-Mathematic... for a detailed discussion of elementary math teaching, or The Teaching Gap: Best Ideas from the World's Teachers for Improving Education in the Classroom http://www.amazon.com/Teaching-Gap-Improving-Education-Classroom/dp/1439143137/ http://www.amazon.com/Teaching-Gap-Improving-Education-Class... for a broader perspective on other ways to organize schools.