Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Leon]

It seems that lately I have seen several articles about how poor quality the U.S. teacher's colleges are. From personal experience, it does seem to me that my friends who were studying to become teachers did have much easier programs than the rest of us. Also, the stats on the low quality of students who go to these schools is pretty depressing for the future of U.S. education. Has anyone here gone to a teacher's college?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/12/teacher-preparation-nctq_n_6142634.html

[northway]

My impression of teacher's colleges has always been that they just made people go through the motions, and this has been backed up by a number of individuals I know who attended them. That said, as with everything else in the States, I don't expect to see any reform.

[bucheon bum]

I don't know what's worse: Teach for America or those teacher's colleges.

[UseAsDirected]

Yes, I think the claim is generally correct. I hold a combined education/physics M.S. degree, and the physics courses were extremely challenging yet the education courses were fairy dust. My sister sat for an M.S.Ed. at UPenn in education (math focus) and she too echoes the same sentiment.

Teaching degrees should be administered at those very departments not at schools of education. And there was something odd about my cohort; less interested in gaining a technical mastery of the subject, less interested in reading the latest physics teaching papers, but more interested about getting into policy, administration, and other cream fluffery. No wonder only 33 percent of physics courses are taught by B.S. physics majors, in USA. What is the percent in your countries?

For those who want to become professional teachers in the United States, find a university whose department administers the graduate degree jointly and take the bear minimum education courses. Or, just get a graduate degree in that pure subject. Save you the head shaking.

[northway]

I think it bears mentioning that America's elite private schools routinely hire those without education degrees or certifications.

[UseAsDirected]

Exactly. But, the school does not have to be elite; all independent schools do not demand licenses of their teachers. But, that situation is slowly changing. Often, the indy school prefers the Praxis II certificate and licentiate applicant for marketing purposes to parents and to justify the tuition cost. I taught indy and now charter and they felt very similar, administratively. But, nevertheless, you are right, it is not required.

[atwood]

[UseAsDirected]

A teaching license is not required at an independent school in the United States.

Good question: unlike district schools, there is a lot of variability among charter schools. When I joined, I was not required to have a teaching license, but, was told to eventually get that licentiate later because of the high need degree. I did. In my state the starting salary was higher at the charter than at the district school, but, the salary grows slower. But, that is expected because class sizes are much smaller and it is a polytechnic (e.g., STEM) school, with generally higher level students. Also, there is no tenure, which is nice.

[baedaebok]

I'll add my voice to the rage against the poor quality of teacher's colleges -- but this coming from Canada. I just finished a Bachelor of Education program and got licensed to teach public schools in Canada. The coursework is fluff. Before doing the BEd, I complete a MA in TESOL and found the coursework quite demanding. The BEd coursework is all about groupwork. If you can pull your weight in a group, then you are good.

Actually, most of the professors teaching the BEd courses didn't know what to teach. Most of the time they either lectured to us but never followed that lecture with assignments, etc. OR they stuck us in groups with too easy group assignments. One class we spent a lot of time in groups painting (in Arts Education).

The real problem that most teachers face is Classroom Management but there is no such course.

The problem is the teacher unions and School of Ed have a tight grip on the program.