“I taught it. It’s not my fault if they didn’t learn it,” (Wagner, p.156). I have heard this quote throughout my teaching career. Every time I hear it, I asked myself if these “educators” should even be educators. If it’s not the teacher’s fault, then whose is it? The principal for not supervising/observing teachers? The school district for not providing support to school sites? Universities for not preparing learners to become proper teachers? There are educators who shouldn’t be allowed to hold that title.
No one should have tenure. Employers at Qualcomm, Google, or Microsoft do not have tenure. Why is it that educators do? If I were an employee at Qualcomm in California, I would most likely be fired if I was not performing. If I wanted to keep working there, I would have to be up-to-date with the latest skills needed for my job. As a teacher, one should always be up-to-date on tools for education. Unfortunately, that is not the case. I wonder if educators would be more motivated to learn and implement new tools in their classroom if they were compensated more appropriately.
I agree with Wagner when he states “...viewing and discussing videos of teaching and supervision is the single most effective strategy for improving instruction for all schools; yet it is almost never done,” (p. 142). If this is the case, then why is it that we do not do it? The more I read this book, the more questions I have. It absolutely does not make any sense, at all.
Who is responsible for students’ performance; teachers, principal, school district, credential programs, law-makers, legislators, students, and/or parents? First, teachers are not compensated well. Second, in politics, money talks, meaning that education has typically not been made a priority. Third, there are schools with very limited resources. Forth, students come from different backgrounds. They do not all have the same opportunities and resources at home. Lastly, we have NCLB. Wagner implies that this implemented “idea” did nothing good for our students. They take “dumbed down” standardized tests, and focus more on the testing than actual learning.
References
Wagner, T. (2008). Reinventing the Education Profession. The global achievement gap: Why even our best schools don't teach the new survival skills our children need--and what we can do about it (p. 290). New York: Basic Books.
Reinventing the Classroom. Retrieved from http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-twjAHRWn2rM/U2EN01L8CaI/AAAAAAAACEQ/DQazl0Eyp Gk/s1600/badgerrtcnew.png
No one should have tenure. Employers at Qualcomm, Google, or Microsoft do not have tenure. Why is it that educators do? If I were an employee at Qualcomm in California, I would most likely be fired if I was not performing. If I wanted to keep working there, I would have to be up-to-date with the latest skills needed for my job. As a teacher, one should always be up-to-date on tools for education. Unfortunately, that is not the case. I wonder if educators would be more motivated to learn and implement new tools in their classroom if they were compensated more appropriately.
I agree with Wagner when he states “...viewing and discussing videos of teaching and supervision is the single most effective strategy for improving instruction for all schools; yet it is almost never done,” (p. 142). If this is the case, then why is it that we do not do it? The more I read this book, the more questions I have. It absolutely does not make any sense, at all.
Who is responsible for students’ performance; teachers, principal, school district, credential programs, law-makers, legislators, students, and/or parents? First, teachers are not compensated well. Second, in politics, money talks, meaning that education has typically not been made a priority. Third, there are schools with very limited resources. Forth, students come from different backgrounds. They do not all have the same opportunities and resources at home. Lastly, we have NCLB. Wagner implies that this implemented “idea” did nothing good for our students. They take “dumbed down” standardized tests, and focus more on the testing than actual learning.
References
Wagner, T. (2008). Reinventing the Education Profession. The global achievement gap: Why even our best schools don't teach the new survival skills our children need--and what we can do about it (p. 290). New York: Basic Books.
Reinventing the Classroom. Retrieved from http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-twjAHRWn2rM/U2EN01L8CaI/AAAAAAAACEQ/DQazl0Eyp Gk/s1600/badgerrtcnew.png