This is a very interest read from eSchool News. Here's a quick rundown.
1. Those who can't do, teach.
The fact that education schools are ridiculously easy to get in to and that many teachers go into the field to coach (and school districts reinforce this by giving preference to teachers who can coach, regardless of how poorly they teach).
Teach For America - though it is often criticized by public school teachers and unions - is also putting the lie to this old saying. In case you don't know, TFA accepts applications from the best of the best from elite colleges. Those they accept commit for a two year assignment to teach in urban schools. Of course, many leave to go into business after those two years. But a majority of those will tell you: teaching was the hardest thing they have ever done.
2. A Teacher's Day Ends at 3 pm.
Joke. As Frank McCourt once said, "If you're any good at all, you're having them write." Well, that writing takes time to correct. I have a colleague whose wife is a first grade teacher and she practically lives in her room. That's commitment and passion.
But again, when you force teachers to coach, then you are in fact ending their teaching day at three (or often earlier for road trips) and actually forcing them (yet paying them. Odd how that works, right?) to take another job that directly conflicts with their main one.
3. Teachers Get Their Summers Off.
I don't know if I buy this as a misconception. It's true. Sure many work to supplement their wages (me included), but I also spend much of my summer teaching summer school and prepping for next year. But it's not like every teacher I know is in their room during their summer retooling their lesson plans.
4. If teachers are good at what they do, student grades and test scores will be good too.
I partially buy this. If a teacher is engaging and energetic, makes learning fun and connects it to the 'real world,' students should grow and learn.
However, the education of a student is dependent on at least three key factors. First, the student has to make an effort. Second, parents have to reinforce values and work ethic. And finally the teacher has to work their ass off to make it all come together.
But those factors are not always the reality in schools. Then it becomes unfair to say that grades and test scores reflect teaching.
Imagine if doctors were measured by their results in the ER. Is it fair to judge them just by the outcomes? Of course, not.
But if the setting is a clinic and the patient is willing to work with the doctor, then the results will be quite different.
The same is true with teaching.
5. Teaching is easy, and anyone can do it.
I think this has arisen because of alternative certifications. But let's be realistic. Just about anyone can earn a teaching degree. It's easy to get into education programs. Education schools are the cash cows of many a university.
But it's ridiculous to say anyone can teach. Just look at how many teachers leave the field after their first few years (I've seen figures as high as 25%). That alone should prove that not anyone can teach.
Because education schools have turned out lousy teachers, there is certainly a need for alternative certifications so others can try to do a better job. I'm not opposed to this.
But just because you are an expert in your field, it doesn't mean you can teach either. I recall a relative, if I'm not mistaken, taking a class from a former state rep, again, if I'm not mistaken, at the local community college. The man was certainly an expert. But he bored his class to tears. That's not effective teaching.
6. Teachers are solely responsible for learning.
See #4.
7. If you went to school, you know what teaching is.
Not true. I grew up on a farm, but I don't pretend to know anything about effective farming today. I put tons of hours in a year on my MacBook, but I don't pretend to have a clue how it works.
In fact, I bet if most people spent time watching my class, they wouldn't recognize much of what their education was like. Blogs, iPods, multi-genre and braided essays, sticky-note book reports . . . I knew none of these when I went to school.
Likewise, those who think just because they went to school, they know what teaching is like wouldn't know what to do with a millennial student today. They are utterly alien from what we were like as students.
8. Teachers are well compensated for what they do.
I disagree. I have never complained about my pay or time off. I love what I do and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I am well compensated and feel respected by my colleagues and (mostly) loved by my students. Professionally, I couldn't ask for anything more.
Now, do all teachers feel that way? They should but they don't. But I am only speaking from my perspective.
And I have the greatest job in the world.
9. Teachers aren't as good as they used to be.
Interesting. I think a good teacher is a good teacher is a good teacher . . . you get the idea. Good teachers have that charisma. They have that passion. They have that ability to connect boring material to their students and the real world to make it relevant. I think this occurred in the 18th century and it occurs today. But the students and classrooms are vastly different. But good teaching is good teaching is good teaching.
10. Teachers are all the same.
This is so stupid, I don't know how it possibly made the list. Anyone with a brain stem knows this to be false. Not all doctors are the same. Not all mechanics, dentists, salesmen, pilots, farmers, and waitresses either.
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