What are the most important things in education?
07/11/07 03:01 PM Filed in: Current
topics in education
New York City Public Schools Chancellor Joel Klein
makes a great point in an article titled "How Hard
Can It Be To Teach? The Challenges Go Well Beyond
the Classroom," written by David Herszenhorn, which
ran in The New York Times. Klein states:
Herszenhorn finishes this article by stating:
This is a true statement because the quality of teachers is critical. However, I think there is one other ingredient that Chancellor Klein failed to mention. Another crucial ingredient is that of the experiences and background that the teacher brings to the classroom. The teacher's background will have a far more profound effect on the students' experiences in the classroom than the environmental conditions classroom and school. The teacher's background influences their thoughts, perceptions, and ideals in all aspects. And whether they intend to or not, they pass these perceptions on to their students. The richer the experiences of the teacher, the better chances the students have of receiving a more meaningful learning experience.
Source:
Herszenhorn, David. (2007, July 11). "How hard can it be to teach? The challenges go well beyond the classroom." The New York Times. Retrieved July 12, 2007, from http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/11/education/11education.html?_r=1&oref=slogin.
“The most important thing in education is the quality of teachers,” Mr. Klein said.” The two major ingredients are what you get paid and a combination of working conditions and job satisfaction.”
A great principal and veteran teachers who can serve as mentors are among the ingredients that Mr. Klein said were needed to create “a dynamic positive feedback loop.”
Herszenhorn finishes this article by stating:
In other words, happy, well-compensated, well-supported teachers make great teachers and great schools, even in the heat.
This is a true statement because the quality of teachers is critical. However, I think there is one other ingredient that Chancellor Klein failed to mention. Another crucial ingredient is that of the experiences and background that the teacher brings to the classroom. The teacher's background will have a far more profound effect on the students' experiences in the classroom than the environmental conditions classroom and school. The teacher's background influences their thoughts, perceptions, and ideals in all aspects. And whether they intend to or not, they pass these perceptions on to their students. The richer the experiences of the teacher, the better chances the students have of receiving a more meaningful learning experience.
Source:
Herszenhorn, David. (2007, July 11). "How hard can it be to teach? The challenges go well beyond the classroom." The New York Times. Retrieved July 12, 2007, from http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/11/education/11education.html?_r=1&oref=slogin.
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