A New Generation of Teachers
An upended economy means an upended job market. And the turmoil runs deeper, into the realms of values, meaning, and social purpose. Ours is a time when to be young is also to inherit a world that needs to be righted and to acknowledge that the resources of the human spirit and imagination are about the only resources that have not been systematically depleted. Now is the time, Mr. President, to make education, and especially teaching, one of the top five careers chosen by college graduates. That would involve better career preparation in colleges and universities, reformed induction practices (not dissimilar to interning), working conditions similar to those the best and most experienced teachers would choose for themselves, and the kind of coaching, assessment, and professional development that make continued growth an expectation of both the system and the individual. Idealism is reborn with each generation and is too often squandered by adults who mock it as naive. Teaching is a profession where idealism and realism are co-equals, life-long partners in the always demanding, often joyful, and absolutely imperative work of a democratic society.
This post was submitted by Ray Bacchetti.
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Comments
I agree! Todays best and brightest often choose professions other than teaching; lack of prestige and compensation would certainly top the list of reasons for selecting other professions. We need a revival of Presidential acknowledgement of the value and importance of teachers and education. The time has come to make education, and especially teaching, one of the top five careers chosen by college graduates.
[...] President, to make education , and especially teaching, one of the top five careers chosen by college graduates. A New Generation of Teachers [...]