Teacher Quality and Qualifications - Why the Left is Wrong

It is interesting scanning the discussions about teacher quality and qualifications. As usual, both extremes have it wrong and those of us in the middle are forced to hold our noses and pick a side. Let’s look at the issue from each angle. Next up, the Left.

The Left has missed the boat by viewing every attempt to address teacher quality, preparation and accountability as a direct attack on the profession. Instead of leading the charge to truly professionalize education, they have allowed the debate to revolve around the issues of labor and management. Which is a blue-collar mentality and argument. Which again leads right towards the “trained monkey” premise. Getting the job is not enough, teaching is and must become even more of a knowledge driven profession. We should push ourselves to improve the craft, increase student achievement, and add significant value in every classroom. The “trained monkey” should have no chance of keeping up with field. If we did a better job of both supporting and policing ourselves, the bad teacher would have no place to hide. But the Far Left has convinced us that if we don’t protect the bad and unqualified teacher, they could come after you next.

Yet the danger of that occurring is most prevalent in subjective systems. In objective systems, the “singled-out, random target of management” is an anomaly. Unfortunately, such a system, though better for the profession would directly attack the funding and power base of the Far Left. Professionals that aren’t driven by fear have less need for a blue-collar mentality and labor union like protections.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

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