I just happened to be looking for information on education reform, especially results of Finland's reforms and came upon this site. I have found it very interesting, entertaining, and informative about attitudes toward educational reform. I've been teaching since the 70's and have no plans to quit. I'm good at what I do and love it!
Some of your writers would be surprised to find that I am very conservative, as are many of my fellow teachers. I am not afraid of losing tenure, but I do believe that any worker in any job should not be able to be terminated without just cause! My husband was a principal for many years and terminated a number of teachers over the years with very little trouble because he kept very good documentation. Many administrators are much less careful or determined to do the right thing.
I am not afraid of charter schools or any other innovations they want to try. Some may work, but many won't. I still remember the disaster called "the open classroom" of the 70's. Some type of merit pay will be more difficult to institute fairly, but let the powers that be try!
None of you has mentioned that Finland pays completely for the college training of its teachers. U.S. teachers often start their careers with $100,000 in student loans, the cost of a small house. Why would anyone today want to start in the hole for a job that won't ever average more than half that amount in a year? And in the U.S. they want to take away the health benefits as well! In ten years or less there will be a dramatic shortage of teachers, but by then I'll be retired or dead.
Some of your writers would be surprised to find that I am very conservative, as are many of my fellow teachers. I am not afraid of losing tenure, but I do believe that any worker in any job should not be able to be terminated without just cause! My husband was a principal for many years and terminated a number of teachers over the years with very little trouble because he kept very good documentation. Many administrators are much less careful or determined to do the right thing.
I am not afraid of charter schools or any other innovations they want to try. Some may work, but many won't. I still remember the disaster called "the open classroom" of the 70's. Some type of merit pay will be more difficult to institute fairly, but let the powers that be try!
None of you has mentioned that Finland pays completely for the college training of its teachers. U.S. teachers often start their careers with $100,000 in student loans, the cost of a small house. Why would anyone today want to start in the hole for a job that won't ever average more than half that amount in a year? And in the U.S. they want to take away the health benefits as well! In ten years or less there will be a dramatic shortage of teachers, but by then I'll be retired or dead.