Question:
I recently heard via the local Maryland, USA media that new teacher standards are being proposed by the powers-that-be in the state board of education. I can't recite the entire proposal, but I do remember the two specific changes for public school teachers
I am currently finishing up a Master's degree in engineering science with a computer science concentration while pursuing a full-time technology consulting career and part-time adult education teacher position in the Baltimore County, MD public education system. I have aspirations of teaching at the secondary school level or at a university level, and I am involved with the Baltimore County Board of Education Computer Technology advisory committee. I just wanted to give a little background information before giving my opinion on the subject of this message.
IMHO, the proposal above is on the right track! This would dampen the negative image of those-who-know-do,those-who-don't-teach that is still felt by many public education consumers. Regardless, of this opinion, I think this proposal is in-line with what I believe would be the best public education solution; namely, a marriage of industry, K12, and higher education for the purpose of increasing the rigor and focus of the public education (of course that is a topic for another debate).
Does anyone have any opinions on the proposal above?
Answer:
I happen to be from Baltimore area myself and also saw the announcement. As someone involved in teacher education process, I do have some concerns with this proposal.
With secondary education majors, this will not result in too many changes since they do major in a content area. It is true that they do not always have the same number of courses, but they are pretty close.
I don't know what they will do about El Ed and ECE. What majors? I don't necessarily think majoring in mathematics, for example, will make them any better teachers. I really don't think there is empirical support for the belief this proposal seems to be based upon. In addition, they want to have one-year field based learning opportunity, but when? I know they are thinking about one-year paid internship, but who's going to pay them? If this field based time is to be taken during the students fifth year, how are we going to fit professional courses currently taken by pre-service teachers? Are we going to go in the route of "apprenticeship"?
I do not necessarily disagree with the idea, but I'm not sure if the fundamental assumptions of this proposal has been well researched yet.
