3.14.2007
Are you sure you are meant to be a teacher?
SO - I started out the "real world" in a large consulting firm, where I had 3 careers. I had an epiphany and decided to get into something that I felt that I was giving back, which led me to education. Once I got to education I am amazed how many ineffective teachers there are. Why in most industries do people leave when they realize that they are not enjoying or are good at what they do. Hmm... I have pondered this and I think it is all about the pension. So I am still wondering how ineffective teachers keep their jobs - I mean, if you are not good at your job why do you get to keep your job? I am new, still learning.
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5 comments:
After 35 years in the profession, I have the same question. Why would anyone continue a job that they do not enjoy which is part of the ineffectiveness scene. I have decided they are fearful of change and are not risk takers. These are the very reasons why they are ineffective as well. Sort of like a whirlpool pulling them down.
My experience has been that the teachers that you describe have had poor models, both while they were students at school, and later while they completed their course work. Why do they stay, I don't know [the pension is not really that good], but I thoroughly believe the school community has some responsibility in coaching the teacher, advising, and if matters don't improve, suggesting a job in some other discipline. Society has some blame in all this, take a look at an effective teacher's work and see how much per hour s/he really makes, then compare that with a kid that has just landed a job in the computing industry. But I digress...
There are many, many teachers out there that are shinning alone in their classrooms, where only the future will prove how effective they were. Find those and let them guide you. If you look, you will find.
SBug,
I can not agree with you more...why do teachers feel such a sense of entitlement? Is it the union? Is it the belief they are owed something? Whatever it is I believe it has had a profound effect on the American school system; right along side the crumbling family structures . Teachers spend the beginning of their career with a zest for experimentation and attitude towards finding a way to make all kids successful. However somewhere along their career path too many of them feel unsupported and essentially locked into the teaching profession. They are up in the pay scale and being paid for their longevity and comfort begins to set in and they no longer are seeking new ways to enhance the education of their students.
But how can this be fixed? Some sort of merit pay system seems the most logical as long as it isn't tied solely to test scores and student performance. I am not sure any district or person has this completely fleshed out, but until we can mutually respect teachers like any other occupation and fire the underperforming teachers, many of us will be left wondering where the bitter old teacher comes from.
Your blog states what we are all thinking. Nice job!
I totally agree with you. On a daily basis I teach among teachers who are ineffective and should have left the profession years ago. Unfortunately they are still there collecting their paychecks and thinking ahead when they can collect their pension. These are the same teachers teaching the same way that they have always taught. They are also the ones who complain the most when there is any sort of changes. I wish there was an easy solution, but as long as we have strong unions and tenure these teachers will be there.
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