In Their Shoes
Although Ryan, blogger of I Thought a Think, agrees with The Flypaper blogger Liam Julian that teachers too often play the “How would you know, you’re not a teacher” card, he admits, with help from “famous education observer” Rambo, that the only way to truly understand the teaching position is to do just that—teach:
“I think it can be universally accepted that teaching requires a certain skill set to transmit information to the students and get them to retain it. There's a science to teaching, and there's an art to teaching. I don't think it's out of line to suggest that if you haven't practiced the craft then you don't really have an authentic understanding of what's involved.”
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I agree with Ryan’s thinking in that it does take one to teach to fully understand the detailed process. Most people do not realize all of the details that are put into teaching and how every one of those details play a critical role in the learning process. For instance, in order to cater to all students’ needs, it is essential to incorporate different teaching styles to meet the varying learning styles students possess. It is imperative that teachers create lessons that are developed to meet the needs and interest levels of all students. I bet a lot of people did not even realize that there are different teaching and learning styles. All in all, it is tough job but very rewarding at the same time. One should never lower another’s profession unless they have walked that line, especially a teacher’s profession.
Posted by: Haley | July 16, 2008 2:35 PM
Although I have had fifty years experience working directly with thousands of children of all ages in many capacities and have studied extensively the nature of children and how they learn, I could not work a day as a classroom teacher attempting to teach same-age children, in unison, a standard curriculum, according to a fixed schedule, and promote them automatically. In such an environment, discussions about serving the condsiderable differences in learning styles in students is pointless and irrelevant. Synchronized learning and lecture teaching is an enormously subversive, inefficient, and dishonest activity. Being a classroom teacher is indeed a most difficult task and an excercise in futility. There are no better ways to do the wrong things. As a classroom teacher confined to schools, I could never have discovered or understood the reality of children. Tell me where I' wrong.
Posted by: David D. Douglas | July 19, 2008 6:29 AM
Alright, lets separate a couple of things here.
As a non-teacher who blogs on the subject of education, I am often chided with the "you are not a teacher, therefore your opinion doesn't matter" type of response. So let's make things a little clearer.
There is a difference between commenting on or suggesting broad policy changes in education, or even demanding or expecting some sort of accountability for our educational outcomes as a society or the educational outcomes of a given teacher and telling that teacher how to teach.
As a lawyer, my client cannot and does not have a right to tell me which motions to file, what law to cite or what tactics to take. I do, and should consult with them, but I as the lawyer make those decisions. But the client--the non-lawyer--determines the desired outcome.
The same thing holds true in education. As a consumer and a citizen, I have the right and duty to dictate to the teaching profession what I want to see as the outcome of teaching and education. However, I agree that I should not tell a teacher how to accomplish that goal. By the same token, a teacher has no right to tell me that my desired educational outcomes are irrelevant just because I am not a teacher.
Therein lies the difference.
Posted by: Matt Johnston | July 24, 2008 5:44 PM