The Making of a Teacher (Comparing the US and Switzerland)

1.    When we have a teacher shortage in America, we open the door to hiring teachers of low credentials.

2.    In Switzerland, because the teacher’s job is so desirable, they have no shortages, and even a long waiting list.

2.    Teaching is a desirable job in some countries and an undesirable job in others.

3.    Experience helps teachers find their way to becoming good teachers.

4.    The American teacher shortage is more severe in some subject areas.

5.    America is struggling with how to staff public schools with qualified, committed teachers.


Themes of A Teacher Affects Eternity

Teaching is more than the 3 Rs. It is shaping young people’s lives.

Teacher education programs can help prepare you for teaching, but you really learn it when you do it.

Historically teaching conditions have been very difficult, and they continue to be.

Society has always had high expectations for teachers, but pay has never been high.

Many teachers see their career as a “calling” a way of life that goes beyond the classroom.

Teaching is a feminine profession, which has consequences for its status and pay.

Teachers consistently give the following reasons for entering the profession:
1.  liking children
2.  wanting to work with young people who are growing every day
3.  working in a lively, vigorous school environment
4.  the opportunity to share their love of a certain field

"Educating Peter" Themes

<>Teachers have to be ready for obstacles in the classroom.  Are we/Can we be well-prepared for the challenges?

When should teachers jump in, and when should they let students handle things on their own?

Students may be more capable than we think.

Student involvement is a powerful tool in the classroom.

Teachers are learners, too.

Students learn from seeing what should be done. Students are role models for each other.

Teachers should learn and adapt throughout the year.

Everybody deserves a chance to learn as much as they are capable of.

Teachers learn from students, and students learn from each other.

Teachers have to continually re-evaluate their approaches.

Be careful not to give up too early.

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Teachers should have high expectations.

Sometimes we need to take risks on the least restrictive environment.

Don't underestimate students.

We should balance what is good for one with what is good for the class.

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Teachers should try to establish a balance of shared responsibility with students for what happens in class.

Everybody can be enriched by the presence of all kinds of students.

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All teachers need to understand about special needs students.

Children have an amazing capacity for growth.

The OTHER children grew because Peter was in the classroom.

Student achievement follows closely behind teacher expectations.

<>The Wonder Years (“Goodbye”) Themes

1. One of the most important things in teaching is the relationship between student and teacher.
2. The influence of teachers lives on in the lives of their students
3. Good teachers challenge their students; often different than a parent coddling their children
4. Teacher/student relationship has a higher meaning than a friend/friend relationship
5. Video illustrates a student’s development from elementary school to graduation
6. Teachers make students realize that they are capable and can be independent
7. Video is not about what its like to be a teacher, but what it means to be a teacher- It’s a beautiful thing!

Themes of The History of American Public Education -- Part 2

1.    Schools teach to the time (Sputnik). What dominated our thinking became what we taught in schools.

2.    We struggle with the idea of teaching academics and the whole child.

3.    Schools were not always the best place for children.

4.    We have struggled with the idea of traditional and progressive education.

5.    Schools have struggled with how to sort students at the same time provide EEO.

6.    The history of American education is one that repeats itself over and over.

7.    We have struggled with assimilation, separation and pluralism.

8.    The idea of IQ is a ridiculous notion.

Students were tracked through the first half of the 20^th Century.

2. One of the ideals of American education is EEO.

3. American education has evolved in many different ways.

4. IQ tests were often given more credence than they are worth.

5. The premise of IQ tests is that they are not biased, but in fact, they are.

6. Americanization was one of the main purposes of public education during the 20^th Century.

7. Attendance in American schools was not always what it is today.

Themes of “No Other Choice”

1. Money is important to education.

2. Not all NC schools have the same resources. There is a big gap between the rich and poor schools.

3. Even when local taxpayers tax themselves above the state average, huge inequities exist among NC school districts.

4. The achievement gap in NC is not likely to be reduced until NC schools are funded more equitably.

5. Because NC schools are funded inequitably, the following disadvantages accrue to schools in districts with a low tax base:

Students are deprived of an equal opportunity to attend college (fewer programs and resources).

Schools in these districts are less able to hire good teachers (What teacher would choose to work at a school without books, and adequate facilities, programs, and materials?)

Those who have more resources are in a position to acquire more resources, so the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

6.        North Carolina has a long way to go to provide EEO.

7.        The two districts in this video exemplify what is a huge problem in NC.

8.       We are waiting for someone to step up and push for equitable funding.

9.     Vocational programs are particularly susceptible to funding pressures.


Eyes on the Prize ("Fighting Back")

1.   The history of our attempts to provide equal educational opportunity (EEO) is a story about couageous people.

2.  Courage is required of those who are fighting to receive EEO.

3.  Courage is also required of those who are supposed to provide EEO.

4.  People are comfortable with the values and beliefs of their youth. 

5.  The Little Rock situation was a conftrontation between federal and state governments. 

6.  Our system of public education is expected to address social problems. 



Eyes on the Prize ("The Keys to the Kingdom")

1.    Parents influence their children, and the majority of parents influence educational policy.

2.  Forced change creates conflict and the resistance to the very change that is trying to be accomplished.

3.   Major social change is going to take many years.

 4.    You can’t change people’s ideas by changing the law.

 5.    A quality education effects all aspects of life.

 6.    Ignorance breeds fear and hatred.

 7.    When parents and community are poor role models conflict is encouraged.

Themes of "Public Education: It's a Bull Market"

1.   For many years businesses have sought to influence public schools ini various ways .  The business agenda has been in American public schools throughout our history, and its influence continues to grow. 

2.  Many business people (and citizens and educators) see no problem with businesses advertising in public schools and using them as a source of trained workers and customers.  Should businesses have unlimited access to public schools?  If not, where is the line?

3.  Schools are not like businesses because they are designed to fulfill a public service, not a private one.  

4. Public schools are supposed to provide equal educational oportunity for even the poorest children.  Are market strateiges a good way to achieve this?  

5.  We ought to teach and promote the ideals of public education before we start compromising them as soon as a business wants to donate a scoreboard.

6.    The business agenda needs to be balanced by another viewpoint – a viewpoint that stands for social justice and EEO.

7.   Although few business people want to invest more money in public education, schools serving the poor are unlikely to improve if more resources are not provided.



Themes of "Common Miracles"

1.  There is a new movement in American schools, which involves thinking about teaching and learning in totally different ways from the traditions of American public schools.
2.  We have learned much about learning by studying the brain.
3.  Schools have traditionally focused on two of the seven intelligences.
4.  The idea of an "intelligence quotient" may be one that does more harm than good.
5.  Labeling and tracking students are the traditional approaches to public schools.  We have found that they don't work.
6.  New approaches to learning and teaching involve authentic learning, diverse approaches to learning, parents involvement, and wholistic thinking about what we want our children to learn.  Examples of these were the substance of the video.
7.  This video was produced in 1993.  Since then we may have been going back to the traditional ways ot teaching in our schools, instead of pursuing these types of "common miracles." One of the reasons for this "retreat" is the emphasis on standardized test scores.  Another reason is the emergence of rigid state and federal legslation.