I think that the single most important thing is a teacher's ability and willingness to meet their students where they are, and teach them what they need, regardless of the student's level or ability. These might be teachers who entered the profession through traditional teacher education programs, or through alternate means. I had the opportunity to teach some Teach for America candidates during their first year, and I have to say that they were like most other teachers I knew, with the exception that they were highly motivated to learn, change, and succeed. While many of my colleagues were flexible and enthusiastic, the TFA teachers' drive and tenacity far surpassed my colleagues'. Too many teachers in hard-to-place schools get stuck, or are happy to do enough to get by in some very trying circumstances. I found that the Teach for America candidates and Teaching Fellows candidates brought a breath of fresh air, and what they lacked in pedagogy they more than made up for in enthusiasm and dedication to their students. I'm not sure how TFA works in Florida, but TFA teachers are not taking jobs away from 2-3 year teachers in New York -- here, the Teaching Fellows and TFA teachers go where other fear to tread: the schools with the lowest rankings in terms of test scores, discipline, and conditions. I think it would be great for teachers with a decade of experience to come to teach in these schools, but sadly, there aren't many volunteers. Its true that they are learning the pedagogy while they are teaching, but the students deserve to have someone there who is really interested and invested in them. I've met many teacher who graduated undergrad programs -- and some who went straight on to grad programs -- who began the real-world teaching experience only to find that they don't like it. Now, $100,000 later, they decide to "stick it out" because its what they've prepared to do, even though their heart isn't in it. And heart is the most important ingredient...regardless of how one enters the profession.
Randy Lichtenwalner Assistant Principal Washington Irving School Public Schools of the Tarrytowns _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
