One of the recent blog posts I have read is
telling that revered teacher Nancy Atwell, the winner of the Global Teacher Award 2015, which is kind of
Nobel Prize in educational world. As it was reported by Education Week Teacher,
she became the best of the best 1,300 teachers from 127 countries around the
world who applied for this prize. Having 42 years of teaching experience and
own Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), Nancy sparked lively discussion
among educators when she said in a special interview for CNN that she would not
encourage young and creative students to follow teaching career. Atwell recommended
kids to look in private sector and justified her opinion saying that teachers
in public schools nowadays are restricted by “Common Core Standards and tests
that are developed to monitor what teachers are doing with them. It is a
movement that turned teachers into technicians, not reflective practitioners.” (retrieved
from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/20/nancie-atwell-prize_n_6910948.html).
As a result of hot debate, opinions were divided
into two sides. On one side are those who think that Atwell is wrong since her
position can be considered as encouragement of the brain-drain, they also claim
that schools extremely need smart, young and creative teachers who can
contribute to the teaching profession and bring changes to the educational
system. People on the other side think that Atwell just does not afraid to get
wise to the reality that takes place in the schools and
that it is fair for future generation to know about it. They sure that by
saying this Atwell calls for attention to the problem of teaching status and to
its attrition as a profession.
Since situation with the teacher status in Kazakhstan
also leaves much to be desired I think that this article in some ways can find
the reflection in our public. As for me, I tend to believe that teacher is a noble
profession, man does not choose it, but this profession chooses the man. And
those who are smart, creative, ambitious and devoted should work in this field,
because such people can challenge the system and bring fresh ideas to the
development of education. My question to is would you recommend young people to
choose teaching profession in our country, why?
The original article is available here: http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/teaching_now/2015/04/teachers-push-back-on-criticism-of-their-profession.html?r=1080719076&preview=1
The video of the interview for CNN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR_qW6IuXv0
Dear Zukharok,
ReplyDeleteI think your concern about the current situation in Kazakhstan which is related to low teacher status is sensible because I do agree with you that only selected, hard-working and quality graduates of colleges or HEI have to be employed in the field of education. Only in that case the teacher status can be raised. But personally, I do not recommend any beginning teacher to teach 20-30 years without any promotion at teaching profession. One has to be always in search of self realization or self fulfillment. Thus, one has to strive for leading others rather than following others.
Dear Zukhra,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your post! I also have read about Nancy Atwell and her Center. I think it is a great accomplishment and I am pretty sure that she deserves this prize. From my perspective, I think that only people with intrinsic qualities and strong desire for teaching can become good educators. We discuss a lot the status of teachers and the knowledge and skills possession. But what is most important is the internal motivation to be a teacher, to enlighten young minds and hearts, to share knowledge and experience, to be able to communicate and interact with people of different origins and backgrounds, to be able to find a “key” for each and every student in the classroom. I don’t think that it is a profession for everyone, like you can become an excellent banker, if you study really hard and get some experience in the field. But we won’t become a great teacher, unless you have internal motivation and desire to be a one, and also possess qualities that beyond the general explanation of “a good teacher’s qualities”, such as mental and emotional maturity, compassion and ability to understand. I don’t think that it’s about advice or encouragement to enter teaching profession; it is more about personal decision and professional determination.
I believe that someday the status of teachers in Kazakhstan or in Post-soviet countries will increase as well as in the foreign countries. However, today not all graduates from pedagogical universities would go to work at schools. It is a medal of two sides. The country is needed in qualified educators, but on the other hand the government does not work on raising the teachers` prestige. So students of pedagogical majors prefer to go to work on private companies where there knowledge and professionalism will be appreciated more than in schools
ReplyDeleteFrom the first time of master's study I hear this question "How to encourage young specialists to the teaching profession?". And I hear this question from the inside as well. Honestly, it become insipid topic without valid and appropriate changes. These changes include high teachers' status through competitive salary. It can be sound banal, but I believe, this can play an essential role in increasing teachers' status and attract more quality specialists, which in turn will raise the competitiveness of mentioned profession in all level - starting from the pre-service education and ending with schools and universities. I think it is unfair to hope only for teachers' love of children and patriotic sense for their profession.
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