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It's true that some teachers have a special aptitude for the job. However, you can't rely on a few exceptional individuals to fix a system that is deficient by
by beloch 12y ago
It's true that some teachers have a special aptitude for the job. However, you can't rely on a few exceptional individuals to fix a system that is deficient by design. You need to change the average teacher. This article pays homage to the exceptional but does not address how to change what is typical.
Compare teacher salaries to average salaries in countries with the highest academic performance on standardized tests. The ratio in such countries (e.g. Canada) is almost always significantly higher than in the U.S.. Educational requirements to hold teaching positions are also typically higher. That's the secret to improving teaching quality on a demographic scale. Pay more, but expect more.
- tuukkah 12y agoThis. Change the average teacher. Require and provide them with a Master's degree in education (in primary schools) or in the subject matter together with a minor in education (in high schools). When they graduate, they will contain the nucleus of the expert teacher in them and will grow with experience. The feedback they get from the students (and parents) - no need for performance evaluations! Why does autonomy work in Finland, as mentioned in the article? First, we have invested in the teacher training. Second, we have provided more resources to the schools with a more troubled student body. No need for the blame game that is the recent Global Education Reform Movement. Could you implement this in a US state similar to Finland such as Massachusetts, if not staight away in all of the US?