Allowing children to progress on their own level in core subjects and spend time learning about things they love is a great idea and is the direction I believe schools should take. However, it doesn't take long thinking along these lines to realize this will require a lower student to teacher ratio. Under the current model, this would be cost prohibitive. However, schools could more easily decrease their student to teacher ratio if not all teachers were required to be certified up front.
I'm not arguing for the abolition of teacher certification. Instead, I'm advocating for a within-school teacher internship program where teachers in training spend part of their time studying and the majority of their time applying those concepts in actual learning settings.
At present, I envision there being at least three levels within this program: 1) those who are fully trained, 2) those who have completed part of their training, and 3) those just beginning their training. The important thing would be to differentiate the kinds of tasks each type of teacher would complete. Fully trained teachers would take on meatier tasks than those who are partially trained or just beginning training. Teachers within the program would also collaborate and mentor one another.
This does bring down teacher to student ratios, but my favorite thing about it by far is that it doesn't separate the teacher training period from actual teaching experience. Teacher education programs at present attempt to do this through observations, practicums, and student teaching. However, I am convinced that there are certain things one can only learn by being immersed in the system.
I'm not arguing for the abolition of teacher certification. Instead, I'm advocating for a within-school teacher internship program where teachers in training spend part of their time studying and the majority of their time applying those concepts in actual learning settings.
At present, I envision there being at least three levels within this program: 1) those who are fully trained, 2) those who have completed part of their training, and 3) those just beginning their training. The important thing would be to differentiate the kinds of tasks each type of teacher would complete. Fully trained teachers would take on meatier tasks than those who are partially trained or just beginning training. Teachers within the program would also collaborate and mentor one another.
This does bring down teacher to student ratios, but my favorite thing about it by far is that it doesn't separate the teacher training period from actual teaching experience. Teacher education programs at present attempt to do this through observations, practicums, and student teaching. However, I am convinced that there are certain things one can only learn by being immersed in the system.
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