The Wall Street Journal consults experts on teacher quality
The WSJ discusses improving teacher quality with three experts, one of whom is actually a teacher. It is with great interest that I read the comments of educators on their profession. The educator in this piece, Mr. Vilson, who is a frequent commentator, once again disappoints me. It always seems as if his comments, and those of many others, are sanitized for public consumption.
It is a rare thing to find many education commentators, Mr. Vilson among them, propose any real, concrete, specific, and insightful propositions. Instead, they tend to come out like this:
Continuous, constructive feedback, strong professional development, and chances to determine one’s own path while still in the classroom are just some of the recommendations I’d make.
Or this:
Teachers should have a set of researched best practices, but we would do well to help educators learn how to be nimble as well.
It sounds too careful and sterile.
Without spending all day thinking about it, I can take a quick imaginary walk through my school and my own classroom and come up with my own very specific ways we could improve “teacher quality,” which is a The Wall Street Journal consults experts on teacher quality | @ THE CHALKFACE: