Brian Cohen
  • Making the Grade Blog
  • About Me
  • Tutoring
  • Press
  • Resources to Share

Different Paths through Teaching

3/20/2012

0 Comments

 
In Diane Ravitch's recent Huffington Post article, she points out that she thinks, "that the lesson of Finland and other high-performing nations is that we must improve the teaching profession, so that career educators receive the respect and working conditions they need to succeed." 

I'm sure many read this article and focused on that fact that teachers are currently being demonized as being uncaring, greedy individuals who are only in the profession to make some money while getting summers off. When I read this line, however, I began thinking about a conversation I had in my recent Teacher Leadership PLC meeting regarding how to reframe the career path of educators. Known as the RESPECT Project, the US Department of Education is trying to reframe what it would look like to be a teacher longterm. 

At the moment the only improvement a teacher has in terms of autonomy of decision-making and increase in salary is to go into administration. In our conversation we discussed the possibility of having different tracks of teacher development. Some would focus on becoming administrators and get important, valid training. Others would remain in the classroom but be given "release time" in order to work on special projects. 

An example of this could be a Teacher-Researcher. Instead of teaching the traditional five classes per day, s/he could teach two and use the extra time to plan, implement, and write a research paper on the affects of poverty in education at his or her school. Another example could be a Teacher-Outreach Coordinator, an individual responsible for fostering community buy-in from the neighborhood around the school. 

While these roles might be contracted currently, oftentimes it would be more useful to have people connected directly with the most important part of the school - the students - in order to affect change and support the mission of education. 

I do not think these roles are coming around the corner now, but I hope that they are being thought of deeply and critically in order to promote what, at the moment, is a career that has been de-professionalized. 
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    I am a math teacher in the New York Department of Education. I infuse technology and real-world problems into my curriculum in order to prepare my students for the future. I would love for people across the country to recognize we teachers can't do it alone. If you don't believe me, come visit my classroom!

    Picture

    Contact Me

    Picture

    Email Updates

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    Archives

    March 2022
    September 2021
    August 2021
    September 2020
    August 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.