David Cameron - could do better
I did my training to be a teacher in the mid sixties. It was about this time that the powers that be began to realise that to be a good teacher you did not necessarily have to have a top class honours degree. In fact there were many instances when would be teachers entered the profession straight from university with top honours degrees and turned out to be useless teachers.
Going back to my Grammar School days, I recall an English teacher I had who inspired me with a love on the English Language and Literature. He was a teacher who had come into the profession via teacher training college. Another English teacher, who I had during my sixth form days, had come straight from Oxford University with a “first” and, quite honestly was useless as a teacher.
A move was afoot to try to persuade all would be teachers who had obtained a degree to do a shortened teacher training course before entering the profession; however there was one big drawback to persuading graduates to follow this training. If they failed the course they were not allowed to teach! Hence, many “poor” teachers gained entry to the profession by circumventing the teacher training part of the course, and gaining entry to the profession on the grounds of a good degree. Eventually this loophole was closed and all graduates who wanted to enter the profession had to take the teacher training element and pass before they were allowed to enter the profession!
Sadly some of our political leaders have not learnt anything from previous mistakes…..
I read that David Cameron is trying to institute proceedings to obtain teachers by a “Teach Now” fast track scheme to encourage graduate professionals to enter teaching. It is suggested that they must have a degree of 2:2 or above.
Maybe Mr Cameron should realise that a brilliant brain is not the prerequisite of a good teacher. One of the most important facets of a good teacher is the ability to pass on knowledge in an interesting and enthusiastic way.
Let me give you another example of a First Class Honours graduate who didn’t make the grade as a teacher. He lived about eight houses away from where I lived at home, when I was training to be a teacher. He obtained a “First” from Leeds University and got a teaching post at the junior school I used to attend. Within a year the complaints about his lack of ability to teach became sufficient for him to quit teaching altogether.
The last I heard he was playing an electronic organ in a strip club, where, to quote him “The pay wasn’t too good, but the fringe benefits were marvellous!”
Teachers are no longer regarded as the professionals they once were thought of. Parents often take an active stance of disrespect towards teachers, and, sadly, often in front of their own children. If David Cameron wants teaching to be considered an “elite profession”, he needs to get the message across to those parents who treat those faced with educating their children like dirt, that this will not be tolerated.
Turning teaching into an “Elite Profession” is not about upping the entry requirements. It is about instilling respect, giving teachers the freedom to teach, and discipline children, and bringing back some of the natural authority which once characterised the job.
Good teacher does NOT equal High Class Honours Degree. Come on Mr Cameron. As it should say on your current report – COULD DO BETTER.
Going back to my Grammar School days, I recall an English teacher I had who inspired me with a love on the English Language and Literature. He was a teacher who had come into the profession via teacher training college. Another English teacher, who I had during my sixth form days, had come straight from Oxford University with a “first” and, quite honestly was useless as a teacher.
A move was afoot to try to persuade all would be teachers who had obtained a degree to do a shortened teacher training course before entering the profession; however there was one big drawback to persuading graduates to follow this training. If they failed the course they were not allowed to teach! Hence, many “poor” teachers gained entry to the profession by circumventing the teacher training part of the course, and gaining entry to the profession on the grounds of a good degree. Eventually this loophole was closed and all graduates who wanted to enter the profession had to take the teacher training element and pass before they were allowed to enter the profession!
Sadly some of our political leaders have not learnt anything from previous mistakes…..
I read that David Cameron is trying to institute proceedings to obtain teachers by a “Teach Now” fast track scheme to encourage graduate professionals to enter teaching. It is suggested that they must have a degree of 2:2 or above.
Maybe Mr Cameron should realise that a brilliant brain is not the prerequisite of a good teacher. One of the most important facets of a good teacher is the ability to pass on knowledge in an interesting and enthusiastic way.
Let me give you another example of a First Class Honours graduate who didn’t make the grade as a teacher. He lived about eight houses away from where I lived at home, when I was training to be a teacher. He obtained a “First” from Leeds University and got a teaching post at the junior school I used to attend. Within a year the complaints about his lack of ability to teach became sufficient for him to quit teaching altogether.
The last I heard he was playing an electronic organ in a strip club, where, to quote him “The pay wasn’t too good, but the fringe benefits were marvellous!”
Teachers are no longer regarded as the professionals they once were thought of. Parents often take an active stance of disrespect towards teachers, and, sadly, often in front of their own children. If David Cameron wants teaching to be considered an “elite profession”, he needs to get the message across to those parents who treat those faced with educating their children like dirt, that this will not be tolerated.
Turning teaching into an “Elite Profession” is not about upping the entry requirements. It is about instilling respect, giving teachers the freedom to teach, and discipline children, and bringing back some of the natural authority which once characterised the job.
Good teacher does NOT equal High Class Honours Degree. Come on Mr Cameron. As it should say on your current report – COULD DO BETTER.
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