S/O teachers

[Anonymous]

Most teachers at independent schools do not have teaching licenses or certificates. Yet, many of the wealthiest and most powerful people in the country (not all, but many), choose to pay big bucks for their students to go to private schools to be taught by these "untrained" teachers. Students from these schools are routinely accepted into top universities. Why do you think that is so? Perhaps the teaching license is less important thank you think?

I find that interesting. Do you have a source on that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I don't have a degree in teaching and teach in MCPS. GASP!


But you have a teaching license, right? Private schools don't require that.


Now, but I wasn't certified for the first five years. (That is the "license")

MCPS doesn't do it anymore. They used to hire teachers under provisional certification which meant you didn't need to be certified as long as you were working towards certification. I think it is a shame because there are some great people out there that could be awesome teachers but just because they don't have the degree/certification, they can't do it (unless they go private)

Well, so you lied in your first post. You have a teaching license now, which means you have a degree in teaching. You're also disingenuous by excluding the salient fact that you could hired under a provisional license IF you were working towards certification at the time of your hire.

Obviously, you have no respect for licensure requirements. That's fine. Luckily, MCPS and virtually every other jurisdiction in the country disagrees with you and recognizes the very simple fact that being good at Math doesn't make you a good teacher of Math.

These great people you know who could be awesome teachers *can* be good teachers. All they have to do is learn how to teach.

Not the PP, but you can become certified through several different routes. Not all of them require a degree in education. There are post-bac certification programs that don't lead to Masters', and options for adding education courses at the undergraduate level that meet the certification requirement but don't lead to a second major in education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Most teachers at independent schools do not have teaching licenses or certificates. Yet, many of the wealthiest and most powerful people in the country (not all, but many), choose to pay big bucks for their students to go to private schools to be taught by these "untrained" teachers. Students from these schools are routinely accepted into top universities. Why do you think that is so? Perhaps the teaching license is less important thank you think?

I find that interesting. Do you have a source on that?

I am a source. I have taught at four different independent schools in the past 28 years. Very few teachers ( particularly in the Upper School) I worked with had teaching certificates.

[Anonymous]

anecdotal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:anecdotal

Anyone who has worked at independent schools knows that this is true. What other sources do you want? Independent schools are not going to publish this data. They are not compelled to do so, and in fact, they probably don't even have this information. They don't care. The fact is, the best independent schools want teachers with advanced degrees in their subject area. Many teachers also have master's degrees in education, particularly Early Childhood Education if they are lower school teachers. Very few of them are certified unless they initially taught in public schools. It is true that a degree in math is not enough to become a good math teacher. You need to learn the science, the art, and the craft of teaching in order to be effective. However, good schools understand that this is not necessarily obtained by jumping through the hoops required to obtain state certification, and therefore it is not required at top independent schools. It is understandable for the OP to be wary of having an experienced teacher for their child. I would contend though, that whether or not they are certified is meaningless. If it is a good school, they have probably done a good job in their hiring process, and they have mentoring and support systems to help their new teachers succeed and grow professionally.

[Anonymous]

To the "anecdotal" person--I am no teacher, but I have researched school options and I have a number of friends in many different states who are teachers. I thought it was common knowledge that independent schools don't need to and don't typically hire formally licensed teachers. In fact, the teachers are also paid substantially less with worse benifits. The advantage is having a stronger student body, which can be a better work environment for some, and being able to break into a teaching career without the red tape. Depending on the school, teachers also might have more autonomy with the curriculum, which some find worth it as well. Any teacher licensed to teach in public school probably will (unless they are really burnt out by working at schools with needy populations or something) because the pay and benefits are so much better. The true advantage to an independent school is a strong/self-selecting peer group and the freedom to administer a curricular model different from the public school system. Not the formal training of the teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the "anecdotal" person--I am no teacher, but I have researched school options and I have a number of friends in many different states who are teachers. I thought it was common knowledge that independent schools don't need to and don't typically hire formally licensed teachers. In fact, the teachers are also paid substantially less with worse benifits. The advantage is having a stronger student body, which can be a better work environment for some, and being able to break into a teaching career without the red tape. Depending on the school, teachers also might have more autonomy with the curriculum, which some find worth it as well. Any teacher licensed to teach in public school probably will (unless they are really burnt out by working at schools with needy populations or something) because the pay and benefits are so much better. The true advantage to an independent school is a strong/self-selecting peer group and the freedom to administer a curricular model different from the public school system. Not the formal training of the teachers.

That is not necessarily true. Many teachers care more about their working conditions and are willing to take less pay in order to teach at independent schools. Obtaining certification is not very difficult. As you noted, there are a lot of perks at independent schools, including being able to ignore things like "teaching to the test", SOL's, Common Core, and whatever the next, latest fad comes along to "fix" public schools.

[Anonymous]

Yeah I guess that part I was basing on my friends who are teachers who have told me as much, maybe not a representative sample.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the "anecdotal" person--I am no teacher, but I have researched school options and I have a number of friends in many different states who are teachers. I thought it was common knowledge that independent schools don't need to and don't typically hire formally licensed teachers. In fact, the teachers are also paid substantially less with worse benifits. The advantage is having a stronger student body, which can be a better work environment for some, and being able to break into a teaching career without the red tape. Depending on the school, teachers also might have more autonomy with the curriculum, which some find worth it as well. Any teacher licensed to teach in public school probably will (unless they are really burnt out by working at schools with needy populations or something) because the pay and benefits are so much better. The true advantage to an independent school is a strong/self-selecting peer group and the freedom to administer a curricular model different from the public school system. Not the formal training of the teachers.

Yeah, I thought it was pretty common knowledge that many teachers in private schools don't have teaching certifications. I wouldn't say independent schools are against licensed teachers per se, but the certification status of a teacher isn't what they care about in their hiring decisions. They want people who are experts in their fields and are also good teachers. That person may or may not have gained her teaching ability by sitting in a school of education for four years.

[Anonymous]

OP: I am a teacher with 15 years experience. I think you sound like a great parent. You want to help in the classroom and that is fabulous. I have never met a teacher who doesn't need some help with some things. Maybe the teacher needs copies, things cut out, bulletin boards, supply run or just a big cup of coffee waiting for her on Monday mornings. The little things really pile up and she will need all of her energy for the classroom. Anything you can do like that is greatly appreciated!
Just please don't snoop around or try to observe what she is doing. All teachers (even the veterans) need time to hit their stride with a group and it can delay the process if unnatural events such as extra people are involved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP: I am a teacher with 15 years experience. I think you sound like a great parent. You want to help in the classroom and that is fabulous. I have never met a teacher who doesn't need some help with some things. [b]Maybe the teacher needs copies, things cut out, bulletin boards, supply run or just a big cup of coffee waiting for her on Monday mornings. The little things really pile up and she will need all of her energy for the classroom. Anything you can do like that is greatly appreciated!
Just please don't snoop around or try to observe what she is doing. All teachers (even the veterans) need time to hit their stride with a group and it can delay the process if unnatural events such as extra people are involved[/b].

Bad advice. I would advise OP to keep out of the classroom. Give your kid some space away from you. You might be helpful making photocopies and bulletin boards, but you are clearly there to keep a judgmental eye on the teacher. Don't do it!

[Anonymous]

compelled to do so, and in fact, they probably don't even have this information. They don't care. The fact is, the best independent schools want teachers with advanced degrees in their subject area. Many teachers also have master's degrees in education, particularly Early Childhood Education if they are lower school teachers.

Exactly. And, those who have Masters in Early Childhood are usually certified! Or could be.

[Anonymous]

I taught in a school that welcomed and encouraged volunteers. One caveat: you did not get to volunteer in your own child's class. Great rule!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child will have a teacher with about 1-2 years experience. Any tips or suggestions on how I can best help a new teacher and manage my expectations?

Help?

Be a parent and stay on top of your kid.

I hope you don't think you'll be running her classroom.

[Anonymous]

My child will have a teacher with about 1-2 years experience. Any tips or suggestions on how I can best help a new teacher and manage my expectations?

At what point do you think a teacher is no longer a "new teacher"?

If it is about managing "expectations" I suggest you homeschool.