Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Day 8: New textbooks will teach students without teachers

LAUSD is about to adopt a new reading language arts program. Macmillan/McGraw Hill's Treasures was selected. Congratulations!  So long Open Court.  It has been an adventure. While this new program is not a scripted basal reading program, as far as I understand it, it is still a complete reading and writing curriculum leaving little room for teacher discretion or adaptation of instruction.  In short, this means little need for a teacher to think.  In addition to this new text book adoption, LAUSD is also working hard to implement DIBELS.  This is considered a fast easy assessment teachers are expected to use to gain information about their students' reading needs.

What I am interested in knowing is if the district feels like teachers need "fast and easy" curriculum and assessments to effectively teach out students, why do teachers have to receive so much training before they join the profession?

For you non-teachers (in case anyone reads this blog) becoming a teacher is not as easy as the main stream media reports and public perception of teachers would make you think.  Anyone who has been in the profession for less than ten years has had a particularly large amount of requirements to meet prior to ever being offered a credential. Let's just say for fun that someone wanted to become a teacher (by the way this would not be a good time to try to go into this particular profession).  First you would need a bachelors degree. That's pretty standard for employment these days. Then after the BA you enter your credential classes.  To finish this credential process you must finish what are called Teaching Performance Assessments.  There are four of them. They are time consuming and elaborate projects that demonstrate "proficiency in teaching".  While completing your coursework you simultaneously must pass the California Subjects Examination for Teachers (CSET). If you will be an elementary teacher this covers all subjects.  There is also the Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA). This test is given to all teachers whose credential will cover reading.  If all tests are passed, the assessments are completed, and your degree is finished then you complete a stint as a student teacher (unpaid).  Then, finally you can join the profession.

I do not argue with these requirements. I think they are valid and necessary. If one is going to be responsible for the instruction of our children they should have to demonstrate a certain breadth of knowledge and general intellect. However, if I am going to complete all these tasks clearly I have demonstrated my competence in the classroom and with the curriculum I am expected to teach. So let me teach. Don't throw quick fixes and easy curriculum my way.  If the district that employees teachers doesn't respect their competence by allowing them to teach the curriculum that meets their student's needs the way the think is best then it is a clear sign that the district does not respect nor value the intellect of its teachers. If the district that employees these teachers cannot give this respect how can society be expected to do so?

If we want education to be more effective than it is time to stop counting on a textbook, or an assessment, or a program to teach our children. It is time we trust the professionals who have been specifically trained with the skills to teach. It is time we trust the teachers. We're not as incapable as you might think. 

1 comment:

  1. Yes, non-teachers are celebrating your blog, although I am a public employee so I am not sure it counts. You made a week-I hope you keep writing.

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