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Here I will disagree with the first statement, but the rest is right on.
Teaching can be learned. The Modeling program teaches teachers how to get
better results. But to do this the teachers have to experience the program
in long term. It takes about 6 to 8 weeks of training to complete the
program. Shayer & Adey monitor their Thinking Science program and the
results are quite good.
As to classroom management, it too can be learned. There is research that
shows what works and what doesn't, but of course nobody pays any attention
to it. There are some programs which actually train teachers in management,
but this is never really done in teacher preparation programs. They teach
teachers about management.
Having gone through teacher training, I can say it generally does not do
much to change the student's attitudes or improve their skills in teaching.
It needs a good dose of interactive engagement to change attitudes and
skills. Part of the problem is also our society which thinks that "those
who can, do, and those who can't, teach". The attitude that competence is
inborn is another big barrier. Research shows that incompetent people think
they are very competent, but when trained to recognize competence, they
change. They become more competent. But this can't be done by just telling
people they are incompetent and need to improve.
And yes, a lot of the business of teaching credentials is skewed. Schools
do assign classes to teachers who have no competence in the subject matter.
But what is worse is that many teachers who are competent in the subject
lack the necessary understanding of what they need to get the students to do
to understand the subject.
John M. Clement
Houston, TX