The education system would benefit from placing its priorities on meeting the needs of the students, the students' families and the teachers with equal attention. The needs of all these people can only be addressed if people creating the policies for the system listen to and listen to the needs of students, families and teachers. If all of these people are heard and addressed the school community will function better.
Thus, the best type of professional development to address the needs of the entire school community requires:
1. Inclusion of all of the school community members.
2. Lesson Study (as mentioned in the Forum)- but would include not only opportunities for teachers to learn from each other, but also students and families to learn from each other. It is also necessary that each of these groups listen and share with each other.
It is essential that the entire school community be addressed in the professional development opportunities that are provided. Equally essential is that enough quality resources be made available to teacher. Although it is the collaboration of the entire school community that makes the system work, it is the teacher who has the professional responsibility to make sure that the children learn. Every teacher knows this is one of the most difficult jobs that exists. Thus, teachers not only need more pay, more respect and quality curriculum- they need professional develpment that provides them with support for becoming a better teacher.
Unfortunately, State Standards and the No Child Left Behind Act tend to put pressure on teachers to perform and to produce results that do not encapsulate all the dynamic issues that happen in the classroom (i.e. class size, poverty, natual disasters, etc.). Teachers need more support and help to accomplish goals instead of more demands to produce numbers based results.
I became a teacher because I fell in love with the ideal of education which has the potential to provide personal development and access to society to all people. However, it is very easy for me to lose my vision of the ideal and become cynical as a teacher because the job is so hard and so often unsupported financially and professionally.
Listening to the McKinsey Report on Education was very insightful. I felt encouraged by the idea of implementing Lesson Studies. I was especially excited about Lesson Studies because the Oakland Adult program that I am part of (CBET) is planning on implementing Lesson Study as a tool for professional development this fall! I was also encouraged by the idea of focusing on going narrow and deep with students rather than wide and shallow.
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3 comments:
I agree with much of what you said, like "teachers not only need more pay, more respect and quality curriculum- they need professional develpment that provides them with support for becoming a better teacher." The best professional development, as with any other profession, is on hand experience.
There is simply no better feedback than what you get from your more experienced colleagues. Also teachers need more support, and more time for professional growth and time for observations of their students. I think that most of the teachers are sincere and dedicated, willing to do whatever they can to help their students grow. The problem is the administrators who control the policies and the way that funds are divvied up. Schools need are interested, involved, motivated parents, and teachers who contribute their energy and skills to convey knowledge to students.
You were right when you said "Teachers need more support and help to accomplish goals instead of more demands to produce numbers based results."
In addition, I believe that class size is a huge factor in a student’s success. There is simply no replacement for the extra teacher to student attention that can only be achieved in small classrooms. We also need smaller schools and administrative districts, with more parental control replacing most of the educational bureaucracy.
"...but would include not only opportunities for teachers to learn from each other, but also students and families to learn from each other. It is also necessary that each of these groups listen and share with each other." I love the idea of collaboration not only among teachers, but also, among students and families. I find as a teacher I often play the role of facilitator...my students make amazing teachers who often teach me a thing or two. Imagine the type of learning and synergy that would occur if people were talking, sharing ideas and life on that level...hmmm!?!?
"The problem is the administrators who control the policies and the way that funds are divvied up." the interesting thing is that I have friends who are admins...they are just trying to do their jobs and rise the pressure placed on them by their superiors...who are doing the same. I have started to wonder where the vicious cycle ends???
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