Johanna Dold (jod@us.net)
Thu, 22 Jul 1999 23:28:47 -0400
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1999 23:28:47 -0400 From: Johanna Dold <jod@us.net> Subject: Re: Fw: Teacher Training
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Wow! What a discourse on what a teacher should be. I have been a teacher for over 30 years.
I now teach computers and serve as the technology coordinator at our school. I could not
agree more about where a teacher's emphasis should be: learning styles, stages of learning,
human development, communication skills. I work in the K-6 environment and I find that the
emphasis is on "content" and "skill" development. These areas are important but it is the
delivery in classrooms that bothers me. Rarely do I see any emphasis on individual learning
styles, or even see evidence in classrooms that teachers are taking learning styles and stages
of development into consideration. "Curriculum" (I am not always 100% sure what that means or
if anyone in the system truly understands that concept.) is what needs to be "taught". So
much of it is still didactic, with the teacher standing at the front of the class and the boys
and girls discovering very little on their own. "Cooperative learning groups" are used rarely
and truly interactive activities are rare. I bet what I describe is very sadly all too common
in schools today. Systems are more concerned about the "content" courses taken than the
ability of a teacher to motivate students to want to learn any of that content, to buy into
their education.
Johanna Dold
Kinshuk wrote:
> List address to send message to everyone: ifets-discuss@LISTSERV.READADP.COM
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>
> The following interesting email came to my mailbox rather than going to the list.
>
> Regards.
>
> IFETS Co-ordinator
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: mary klersey
>
> > You present a very interesting article.
> >
> > However, as one who hires and fires teachers, both new and old, I feel it is
> > crucial that teachers understand the intricacies of human development,
> > stages of learning, learning styles, and communication skills. This training
> > and understanding should be the base of education for those aspiring to
> > prepare others for the 21st century.
> > I find that teacher preparation today is too broad. It introduces much and
> > produces would be teachers who are masters of little. Then there is the
> > fine line teachers are either ill equipped to walk or afraid to walk, that
> > of forming a future. Students need to see the world and think. Thinking
> > involves a choice: "yes, this is good, I will maintain it, or, no, this is
> > wrong, it can be changed for the good of all- I can change it by doing this,
> > this, and this." I do not find this type of education happening. I would
> > like to discuss this with someone who has a similar vision of education, the
> > role of a teacher, and teacher training.
> >
> > A concerned principal
> > Sr. Mary Klersey
> > Villa Victoria, Ewing, NJ
> > srmary@hotmail.com
> >
>
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