Education as We Know It

Education has become the frontier of Ohio's "hot topics" discussion as of late. Governor Strickland has devised a plan that will utilize the practice of evidence based methods but will it work for Ohio? The dictionary says that education is the result produced by instruction, training, or study; the science or art of teaching. The answer for Amercian education is hidden behind the curtains of funding and training. It's almost unfair to select one or the other because the system needs equal output from both ends to be successful in change.

Adelle's touched on the teacher certification process and how it varies country to country and state to state has different requirements. Would it not make sense to have the same certification standard across the board for teaching in general? I certainly feel that extended certification and training for teachers should be reimbursed and favor the mentoring program,also mentioned by Adelle. How can one feel adequate in the classroom if their teaching exposure has been limited to a student teaching experience? Like nursing, teaching is a profession that is mastered through extensive training instruction from experienced professionals. Today's educators are going against all odds with the students they encounter today. It's almost as if you need to have skills of a teacher (of all subjects-primary grades), social worker, administrator and a health care professional (medical and psych logical). Unlike a firefighter who goes in to do just that fight fires, we are fighting the entire picture. In the clip "Empowering New Teachers:Bank Street College of Education" they prep educators by exposing them to different activities that center on diversity and student relativity (the hand games). That is clearly a struggle for some teachers. It's difficult to help anyone if you have no idea how to relate to them!

The new plan for distributing school funding is going to be interesting to watch. Like any job, I do believe there are some teachers who are not meeting the standards and addressing student needs whole hearted. These individuals should be recognized and dealt with appropriately. It's unfair to have a host of new grad teachers unemployed, desperate to make a difference because "Mr.Smith" has seniority with the school district and performs inadequately. In the article "1st Educational Stimulus Flows to States...by Sawchuck and Robelen, is using teacher quality reporting requirements for funding. I think it's about time to set standards for our students educators. Hopefully, this new system will improve the academic situation in America.







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