Corporate America wants inexperienced teachers in the classroom
Posted on August 1, 2012 by dsalaborblogmoderator
by Bob Simpson
It’s true! The big money people want to put the rookie squad into our classrooms. Corporate funded attacks on public education and teachers’ unions have portrayed higher paid, more experienced teachers as the villains of the current financial crisis. It’s good-bye, Mr. Chips and sayonara, Ms. Frizzle.
In 1987-88 the typical primary or secondary teacher had 15 years of experience. But by 2007-2008, the typical teacher had 1-2 years of experience. Not only that, but 50% of teachers leave the profession within 5 years. Veteran educator Larry Cuban has estimated how long it takes to actually learn the job.
“Only by the end of the fourth or fifth year of teaching do most newcomers become competent and confident in figuring out lessons, knowing the ins-and-outs of classroom management, and taking risks in departing from the routines of daily teaching.”
Brad Juppe of the US Department of Education is blunt:
“The crisis is upon us. The mode of experience being one to two years should be the most alarming thing we have come upon.”
When I was teaching back in the 20th century, there was a lot of talk about creating master teachers and mentoring programs
A master teacher is an experienced teacher who acts as a mentor for new teachers. A program called National Board Certification was started for teachers who wanted to qualify as true master teachers. Mentoring is a win-win-win idea.