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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]What if the teacher went to a school that does not offer degrees in education, like Princeton?[/quote]

I am the poster that raised the questions for the OP.  It always surprises me that simply because one has matriculated through the US K-12 system, they are an "expert" in education. When looking for a doctor or a lawyer, you would look for someone qualified.  Why expect anything less from a teacher?

As an administrator of a school I gladly answered questions about my teachers. I was proud of the teachers I selected and was sure to tell parents how we supported our wonderful new teachers.  You can ask questions without being nasty or petty. Qualification questions are valid and any administrator should be happy to share what a teacher contributes to his/her school.

That being said, having a degree from Princeton does not make you a good teacher. Having gone through Teach for American where the majority was Ivy League educated, I was astounded by the lack of cultural responsiveness and reflective practice.  Being "smart" does not mean that you understand nor care about your teaching population. It does not make you a teacher who not only imparts knowledge but also inspires children.

Teaching IS A PROFESSION.  Let's treat it like one. I am sick of the low expectations and the notion that anyone can walk off the street and teach. I am also appalled by the idea that because you are energetic and young, you are good teacher.

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Your emphasis on certification and going to a school with a strong education program marks you out with your own bias.  Our kids [b](upper school)[/b] have humanities and STEM teachers with PhD's and advanced degrees from outstanding institutions -- a lot of these people, though not all, are brilliant (and the kids know it and are engaged by it).  Their teaching skills range from solid to life-changing.  Generally in independent schools at the Upper School level (and to a lesser extent at the Lower/Middle level), teachers will not have Ed degrees and will not be certified -- it is one of the big differences between public and private schools.  So encouraging parents to go in to the head of school and ask if the teachers are certified or have Education degrees is encouraging them to ask a question that sounds like they've got an agenda (teachers should be certified).  Not every teacher in independent school is good, and I've seen our school go to more rigorous hiring practices (teaching a full class if not a day of classes) that seems to be bearing fruit in helping weed out those who are not strong.  The schools are also doing more internal training and sharing of best practices.  But just as you reject "the notion that anyone can walk off the street and teach," I reject the notion that certification/participation in an education program is the only way to produce good teachers.[/quote]

I agree with you regarding upper school teachers. However, a 2nd grade teacher needs an understanding of early childhood pedagogy. A person with a PhD in literature may  be a brilliant and inspiring teacher for an upper school English course, but would have no idea how to teach a 6 year-old how to read. Most top-notch independent schools hire lower school teachers who have Master's degrees in early childhood education.[/quote]

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