Arne Duncan "teachers in America often come from the bottom of the academic barrel"

[madfloridian]

55. Actually in most fields experience is considered a good thing.

The chart shows the impact that programs like TNTP and TFA are having on education just in the last few years.

The alternative routes to certification are more attractive now due to the fact that Arne and Obama have criticized traditional degrees in teaching. They have done much to contribute the idea that older teachers are not good teachers. That is shameful.

Here is a little about what Teach Now is about.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tara-sophia-mohr/teach-now-jennifer-louden_b_837352.html

One of the ways she's working on this mission of supporting others in service is through Teach Now, an online course she co-created with Michelle Lisenbury Christensen. Teach Now is about teaching -- but not just for professional educators. It's about how all of us can claim our role as teachers more fully and more confidently, and share our knowledge with those who need it.

I recently interviewed Jen, and we discussed why we need teachers now more than ever, how we can overcome self-doubt in our teaching, what qualifies us as "ready to teach," and much more.

When we hear the word "teacher," many of us think of professional, full-time educators -- like kindergarten teachers or the high school math teachers. You embrace a much more expansive definition. Who do you include in the tribe of teachers?

JL: My friend and co-creator of Teach Now Michele Lisenbury Christensen came up with this great definition: 'A teacher is anybody who shares ideas, energy, information with others for the sake of serving.' I love love love this.

Sounds good, sounds great. Makes it sound like enthusiasm is better than the experience of being in a classroom with children and knowing how to inspire them. Love love loving it only takes one so far.

The chart makes a point I have been making for a long time. Look at the huge spurt of growth of alternative certification. When that is only 5 weeks training under contrived conditions, it is not enough.

Most teachers are not from the bottom of the academic barrel.

There is no defending that statement.