As a preface, I have not read the assigned article yet and these are just my initial thoughts on the prompt. I’ll gladly comment again if my thoughts change upon reading:
If you define profession as something you do to earn a paycheck- simply a job to keep yourself afloat then no I don't necessarily see teaching as a profession. At this point I see teaching as a sort of way of life. I am aware that I may sound juvenile or unrealistic in my expectations and optimism about teaching, but for me, it is an integrated part of my life- or I intend it to be. You can’t turn your teaching switch off at the end of the day and go home to a completely separate life. Just as I have experienced as an RA you are, in a sense, on the job all of the time and I imagine teaching being that way. I will be someone’s teacher at the grocery store, in a restaurant and when I am at the movies with my friends. Someone is bound to recognize me and I couldn’t really turn around in the grocery store and pretend to not see them…could I? I don’t see teaching as just a job because the profession (in a broad sense as in there are groups of teachers in various locations) isn’t about what I can get out of “performing these duties.” Teaching is about giving in my eyes. There will always be some level of personal gain, of course, given in the capitalistic society that we all live in, but the larger concepts for me are to influence change in some way. As a teacher success isn’t defined by what standardized tests cough back as the statistics or if my top students go onto college, while these are good things if achieved, they are not the only important things. Success comes from every one of my students progressing in some way. I may be overly optimistic through unforeseen obstacles- and I sometimes feel like my privilege is talking when I don’t mean to refer to students as “groups that need help” – that actually makes me sick but how else (with my limited knowledge of teaching) can I describe the position I will be in? But I think improvement across the metaphorical board would be a viable goal. I realize that I have gone off topic and this is getting lengthy, so too bring it back… Simply put, I don’t really see teaching as a profession. But then that really depends on the interpretation of “profession” that is used. If the definition being used is, “a calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation” (from Merriam-Webster) then I would qualify teaching under that category. As confusing as it may be, as multiple angles are assessed personal definitions shift and since we all don’t think through the same lens I thought I’d give two sides of the argument with different definitions. Under the secondary definition, I believe that anyone can teach, but not everyone can be a good teacher. It’s part of why we have so many problems in some public schools- but that is a can of worms that I am not up to opening. I believe what we do in RTR is embodying this second definition of profession. The cohorts are answering the call and going under the intensive preparation because it is what we want to do with our lives. Good teachers give more than the bare minimum and that is part of what makes teaching a profession under this definition.
Sorry for the insanely long post- but I’ll wrap it up here before the rants begin. Happy blogging!
Do I consider teaching a profession? I am going to take the easy way out and say yes and no. In accordance with the dictionary definition provided by Wenda, yes, teaching is a job that requires a specific skill set and education. Yet, it goes beyond that. Teaching is a commitment to your students, their parents, the school, the community, and last but not least your subject. Teachers are guardians of knowledge, tasked with communicating that knowledge to others. The responsibility and gravity of teaching goes far beyond what I think of when I hear the word profession. As Wenda put it, it is a way of life, and to truly make an impact, a teacher must commit his/herself wholly to the education of their students. Bad teachers treat their jobs like a profession, great teachers treat it as a calling.
I do think of teaching as a profession, in that I believe teachers are professionals and masters of their discipline, as opposed to non-professional workers. I agree with Wenda and Ryan that as a teacher your work extends beyond what happens in the classroom and seems to become a way of life. I think this is true not just for teachers but for many professions, specifically those in the arena of public service. Personally I do not think of teaching as a calling, and I mean no offense to anyone who does. I simply don't believe that there is such a thing as being called to any profession. Some people may be more inclined to preform better in certain circumstances, but that to me does not mean that there is a specific job anyone is meant to do. I believe we all have a unique set of experiences coupled with a unique history of decision making that has led us all to the point that we chose to become teachers. I don't think it becomes any less valuable or venerable to say "I choose to be a teacher" than "I was called to teaching". I could have chosen to do a lot of things and the reasons I didn't choose other paths was simply because upon reflection on my accumulated knowledge and experiences, I made a decision. I don't believe there is such a thing as a one true path or destiny or calling for anyone in life. There is simply the choices you make and how you handle and respond to those choices. In some ways, that makes the choice to be a teacher even more amazing, because if you could pursue one of many many different professions and you CHOOSE teaching, its even more special then if you identified a predetermined calling in which the choice is seemingly eliminated, as is the personal honor in making that choice. But like I said, that's just my humble opinion. At the end of the day I think regardless of how or why you decide to go into the teaching profession it means you have a desire to work with kids, inspire young people, convey passion about your chosen content or specialty, and maybe even sort out some of the philosophical, social, and ethical issues that education is plagued by.
I am inclined to lean more towards Christina's point of view than Wenda's, although I do understand Wenda's and Ryan's points. I personally believe that the devaluation of teaching as a profession is a huge source of the problems in our education system. There seems to be this idea that anyone can become a teacher, and anyone that cares enough can become a great teacher. From this viewpoint, we get programs like Teach For America that place inexperienced, untrained recent graduates into our nation's toughest schools. In reality, at least in my experience, teaching requires a specific set of skills and training (classroom management, how children learn at various age levels, etc.), along with extensive content knowledge of the area in which you teach. Once this training and skill set has been acquired, it is passion that turns a teacher into a great teacher. But I believe that this is true of any profession. If you guys haven't read the article Ann posted on the facebook page, I recommend it. http://www.musingsonlifeandlove.com/2010/09/13/the-hardest-job-everyone-thinks-they-can-do/
Simply put, yes, I believe that teaching is a profession. And, I'm sure, sometimes it's a job. I'm not speaking btw, about any kind of holistic definition of teacher; I'm talking about a schoolteaher or professor. Someone who's paid to do so.
While not getting bogged down in definitions of callings or compulsions, I'll say that some people have a knack for teaching, just like some people are better at sports, and some are better at finance. I'm one who believes that a good teacher can, with the right amount of preparation, teach nearly any subject. I have found it to be much like any other skill. I have, in the various informal teaching settings in which I've been a part, honed my ability to convey a message through practice and by furthering my knowledge of the content matter. I know plenty of people who know much more about estuaries and banjos than me, but I also know that many of them wouldn't be able to communicate that knowledge effectively.
However, I also know that, while not just anyone can be a good teacher, nearly anyone with a college degree can pass the Praxis and enter the teaching profession.
We all know what is commonly thought of as the “world's oldest profession,” but, of course, someone had to teach them how.
It’s Krystal. I am going to take a somewhat different approach to this answer.
I definitely view teaching as a certifiable profession. Throughout history the art teaching was a trade in which many people were not able to partake in. In many parts of Europe, before the Protestant Reformations, the masses of people were illiterate and relied solely on the clergy for their knowledge of worldly and non-worldly matters. As those less privileged individuals began to question their daily dealings as well as other worldly issues in frames outside that of religion, more people became literate. The few individuals with enough wealth and/or connections to be able to adopt a trade partook heavily in studies of education and many went on to teach. These teachers were instrumental in the expansion of popular knowledge and played a pivotal role in the advancement of the sciences. Over time the importance of teaching as profession has diminished in popular view with the up rise of other professions and revolutions that allowed common people to digress from subsistence farming and take on other forms of work. Teaching is a means of publicly upholding a significant part of the American ideology. The socialization of the youth is an important concept when one considers the future of the country. The youth has to have a well-rounded backing in many disciplines for the nation to succeed and progress economically in a global setting. Without well-prepared teachers bestowing and examining the knowledge that the youth needs the system does not work. I believe this to be a monumental conception because teachers are a gear in the machine that keeps the nation running.
I tend to agree with Christina and some of the other points made about teaching being an actual profession. That being said I believe that teachers are professionals and in the truest meaning of the word, as professionals are some of the most committed people one can find. Being a professional anything takes a lot of diligence, dedication, service, responsibility, and plethora of other things. All of these are what describe teachers. I don’t think we are born teachers, doctors, athletes, or any other field but rather everyone develops certain interests and preferences depending on their life experiences. I think a certain amount of education and bit of natural skill set can develop a professional in any field. Do I believe that teachers are considered professionals by other professionals in different fields? No, I believe there is a common stigma coming from not just other professionals but also average citizens, that teaching is sort of frowned upon, though everyone recognizes the difficulty of teaching, they still don’t hold it up to the standard of other professions (doctors, lawyers, etc)
Of course teaching is a profession. Teaching isn't a simple as passing something you posses onto another person who does not. There is an art to effective teaching. Teacher's must be adaptable, patient, and continual learners themselves. He who claims teaching is not a profession, must have never had a truly terrible nor a truly amazing instructor. In light of our most recent reading assignment, I would have to argue that being an excellent teacher is becoming less valued, but factually should be more valuable than ever. Despite more focus on the credential than the knowledge in education, the fact is a good teacher can prepare you for whatever goals or purpose you ascribe to. Teaching requires dynamic skill set of social interaction, political and bureaucratic juggling, and a knowledge based that is always expanding. That’s not to say someone couldn’t walk off the street and be a good teacher, but to be a true master of any profession including teaching, you must take the time to hone your craft and allow yourself to be the student first.
I agree with a lot of what is being said. I think teaching is a profession, especially according to the definition provided by Wenda, but I'm not sure I'm in love with the idea of professions in general, nor do I think that the professional aspect of teaching (degrees, certifications, knowledge of theory) is even remotely close to being the most important aspect of teaching. I know I had many teachers who clearly had been taught how to teach and plan lessons and manage a classroom, but had no idea how to be engaging or inspiring, making them, in my mind, ineffective teachers. I much prefer the concept of teaching as an art, because this conveys the creativity and the active, engaged mind that I think it takes to become a solid teacher.
Marie here At it highest level teaching is both a profession and a calling. To be a teacher that possesses the knowledge/content and the ability to impart knowledge/methodology is only part of the equation. Those things can be accomplished through reading, online and in many other ways. The personal commitment and presence and involvement and dare I say caring heart of a teacher is what makes the real difference.
Teaching is a profession based on the high level and complex training required to enter the profession. It is also a profession based on the range of knowledge and skills needed to perform the work. On any given day a teacher wears so many hats it is mind boggling. Examples without detailinclude, public safety officer, fire marshall, law enforcer, military tactician, communicator (with a classroom full of different personalities parents, administrators) medidator, psychologist, health care provider and more. Professionalism is sometimes measured by the contributions the discipliine makes to society. While greatly undervalued, teachers reach into the future by training everyone that will enter any profession. They touch lives for good or ill. When you provide this kind of service, you are the consummate professional.
I mostly definitely see teaching as a profession. Now that I'm posting at the end of the class, more than I ever would have at the beginning. Teaching is a craft. Something that provides a service to the greater public, but also something that needs to be worked at, molded, changed, and perfected. Not everyone who believes they can teach, can be effective meaningul teachers. That fact alone makes teachers professionals to be respected. Like Marie said, it takes complex training to become a teacher, but even with that training only experience will make someone a one of a kind teacher. THAT is what makes teachers professionals.
I agree with Huso completely that other "professionals" and people with opinions that may or may not matter do not view teachers as professionals. Unfortunately, this is in part shown by our dismal pay scale. However, this should not stop us from viewing ourselves as professionals and working to prove those people wrong by being great at our jobs.
As a preface, I have not read the assigned article yet and these are just my initial thoughts on the prompt. I’ll gladly comment again if my thoughts change upon reading:
ReplyDeleteIf you define profession as something you do to earn a paycheck- simply a job to keep yourself afloat then no I don't necessarily see teaching as a profession. At this point I see teaching as a sort of way of life. I am aware that I may sound juvenile or unrealistic in my expectations and optimism about teaching, but for me, it is an integrated part of my life- or I intend it to be. You can’t turn your teaching switch off at the end of the day and go home to a completely separate life. Just as I have experienced as an RA you are, in a sense, on the job all of the time and I imagine teaching being that way. I will be someone’s teacher at the grocery store, in a restaurant and when I am at the movies with my friends. Someone is bound to recognize me and I couldn’t really turn around in the grocery store and pretend to not see them…could I?
I don’t see teaching as just a job because the profession (in a broad sense as in there are groups of teachers in various locations) isn’t about what I can get out of “performing these duties.” Teaching is about giving in my eyes. There will always be some level of personal gain, of course, given in the capitalistic society that we all live in, but the larger concepts for me are to influence change in some way. As a teacher success isn’t defined by what standardized tests cough back as the statistics or if my top students go onto college, while these are good things if achieved, they are not the only important things. Success comes from every one of my students progressing in some way. I may be overly optimistic through unforeseen obstacles- and I sometimes feel like my privilege is talking when I don’t mean to refer to students as “groups that need help” – that actually makes me sick but how else (with my limited knowledge of teaching) can I describe the position I will be in? But I think improvement across the metaphorical board would be a viable goal.
I realize that I have gone off topic and this is getting lengthy, so too bring it back… Simply put, I don’t really see teaching as a profession. But then that really depends on the interpretation of “profession” that is used. If the definition being used is, “a calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation” (from Merriam-Webster) then I would qualify teaching under that category. As confusing as it may be, as multiple angles are assessed personal definitions shift and since we all don’t think through the same lens I thought I’d give two sides of the argument with different definitions. Under the secondary definition, I believe that anyone can teach, but not everyone can be a good teacher. It’s part of why we have so many problems in some public schools- but that is a can of worms that I am not up to opening. I believe what we do in RTR is embodying this second definition of profession. The cohorts are answering the call and going under the intensive preparation because it is what we want to do with our lives. Good teachers give more than the bare minimum and that is part of what makes teaching a profession under this definition.
Sorry for the insanely long post- but I’ll wrap it up here before the rants begin.
Happy blogging!
Wenda again... I apparently don't sleep... Please disregard typos!
ReplyDeleteDo I consider teaching a profession? I am going to take the easy way out and say yes and no. In accordance with the dictionary definition provided by Wenda, yes, teaching is a job that requires a specific skill set and education. Yet, it goes beyond that. Teaching is a commitment to your students, their parents, the school, the community, and last but not least your subject. Teachers are guardians of knowledge, tasked with communicating that knowledge to others. The responsibility and gravity of teaching goes far beyond what I think of when I hear the word profession. As Wenda put it, it is a way of life, and to truly make an impact, a teacher must commit his/herself wholly to the education of their students.
ReplyDeleteBad teachers treat their jobs like a profession, great teachers treat it as a calling.
"Teachers are guardians of knowledge..." <- I like that :)
DeleteI do think of teaching as a profession, in that I believe teachers are professionals and masters of their discipline, as opposed to non-professional workers. I agree with Wenda and Ryan that as a teacher your work extends beyond what happens in the classroom and seems to become a way of life. I think this is true not just for teachers but for many professions, specifically those in the arena of public service. Personally I do not think of teaching as a calling, and I mean no offense to anyone who does. I simply don't believe that there is such a thing as being called to any profession. Some people may be more inclined to preform better in certain circumstances, but that to me does not mean that there is a specific job anyone is meant to do. I believe we all have a unique set of experiences coupled with a unique history of decision making that has led us all to the point that we chose to become teachers. I don't think it becomes any less valuable or venerable to say "I choose to be a teacher" than "I was called to teaching". I could have chosen to do a lot of things and the reasons I didn't choose other paths was simply because upon reflection on my accumulated knowledge and experiences, I made a decision. I don't believe there is such a thing as a one true path or destiny or calling for anyone in life. There is simply the choices you make and how you handle and respond to those choices. In some ways, that makes the choice to be a teacher even more amazing, because if you could pursue one of many many different professions and you CHOOSE teaching, its even more special then if you identified a predetermined calling in which the choice is seemingly eliminated, as is the personal honor in making that choice. But like I said, that's just my humble opinion. At the end of the day I think regardless of how or why you decide to go into the teaching profession it means you have a desire to work with kids, inspire young people, convey passion about your chosen content or specialty, and maybe even sort out some of the philosophical, social, and ethical issues that education is plagued by.
ReplyDeleteI am inclined to lean more towards Christina's point of view than Wenda's, although I do understand Wenda's and Ryan's points. I personally believe that the devaluation of teaching as a profession is a huge source of the problems in our education system. There seems to be this idea that anyone can become a teacher, and anyone that cares enough can become a great teacher. From this viewpoint, we get programs like Teach For America that place inexperienced, untrained recent graduates into our nation's toughest schools. In reality, at least in my experience, teaching requires a specific set of skills and training (classroom management, how children learn at various age levels, etc.), along with extensive content knowledge of the area in which you teach. Once this training and skill set has been acquired, it is passion that turns a teacher into a great teacher. But I believe that this is true of any profession. If you guys haven't read the article Ann posted on the facebook page, I recommend it.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.musingsonlifeandlove.com/2010/09/13/the-hardest-job-everyone-thinks-they-can-do/
Simply put, yes, I believe that teaching is a profession. And, I'm sure, sometimes it's a job. I'm not speaking btw, about any kind of holistic definition of teacher; I'm talking about a schoolteaher or professor. Someone who's paid to do so.
ReplyDeleteWhile not getting bogged down in definitions of callings or compulsions, I'll say that some people have a knack for teaching, just like some people are better at sports, and some are better at finance. I'm one who believes that a good teacher can, with the right amount of preparation, teach nearly any subject. I have found it to be much like any other skill. I have, in the various informal teaching settings in which I've been a part, honed my ability to convey a message through practice and by furthering my knowledge of the content matter. I know plenty of people who know much more about estuaries and banjos than me, but I also know that many of them wouldn't be able to communicate that knowledge effectively.
However, I also know that, while not just anyone can be a good teacher, nearly anyone with a college degree can pass the Praxis and enter the teaching profession.
We all know what is commonly thought of as the “world's oldest profession,” but, of course, someone had to teach them how.
It’s Krystal. I am going to take a somewhat different approach to this answer.
ReplyDeleteI definitely view teaching as a certifiable profession. Throughout history the art teaching was a trade in which many people were not able to partake in. In many parts of Europe, before the Protestant Reformations, the masses of people were illiterate and relied solely on the clergy for their knowledge of worldly and non-worldly matters. As those less privileged individuals began to question their daily dealings as well as other worldly issues in frames outside that of religion, more people became literate. The few individuals with enough wealth and/or connections to be able to adopt a trade partook heavily in studies of education and many went on to teach. These teachers were instrumental in the expansion of popular knowledge and played a pivotal role in the advancement of the sciences. Over time the importance of teaching as profession has diminished in popular view with the up rise of other professions and revolutions that allowed common people to digress from subsistence farming and take on other forms of work.
Teaching is a means of publicly upholding a significant part of the American ideology. The socialization of the youth is an important concept when one considers the future of the country. The youth has to have a well-rounded backing in many disciplines for the nation to succeed and progress economically in a global setting. Without well-prepared teachers bestowing and examining the knowledge that the youth needs the system does not work. I believe this to be a monumental conception because teachers are a gear in the machine that keeps the nation running.
I tend to agree with Christina and some of the other points made about teaching being an actual profession. That being said I believe that teachers are professionals and in the truest meaning of the word, as professionals are some of the most committed people one can find. Being a professional anything takes a lot of diligence, dedication, service, responsibility, and plethora of other things. All of these are what describe teachers. I don’t think we are born teachers, doctors, athletes, or any other field but rather everyone develops certain interests and preferences depending on their life experiences. I think a certain amount of education and bit of natural skill set can develop a professional in any field.
ReplyDeleteDo I believe that teachers are considered professionals by other professionals in different fields? No, I believe there is a common stigma coming from not just other professionals but also average citizens, that teaching is sort of frowned upon, though everyone recognizes the difficulty of teaching, they still don’t hold it up to the standard of other professions (doctors, lawyers, etc)
Of course teaching is a profession. Teaching isn't a simple as passing something you posses onto another person who does not. There is an art to effective teaching. Teacher's must be adaptable, patient, and continual learners themselves. He who claims teaching is not a profession, must have never had a truly terrible nor a truly amazing instructor. In light of our most recent reading assignment, I would have to argue that being an excellent teacher is becoming less valued, but factually should be more valuable than ever. Despite more focus on the credential than the knowledge in education, the fact is a good teacher can prepare you for whatever goals or purpose you ascribe to. Teaching requires dynamic skill set of social interaction, political and bureaucratic juggling, and a knowledge based that is always expanding. That’s not to say someone couldn’t walk off the street and be a good teacher, but to be a true master of any profession including teaching, you must take the time to hone your craft and allow yourself to be the student first.
ReplyDeleteI agree with a lot of what is being said. I think teaching is a profession, especially according to the definition provided by Wenda, but I'm not sure I'm in love with the idea of professions in general, nor do I think that the professional aspect of teaching (degrees, certifications, knowledge of theory) is even remotely close to being the most important aspect of teaching. I know I had many teachers who clearly had been taught how to teach and plan lessons and manage a classroom, but had no idea how to be engaging or inspiring, making them, in my mind, ineffective teachers. I much prefer the concept of teaching as an art, because this conveys the creativity and the active, engaged mind that I think it takes to become a solid teacher.
ReplyDeleteMarie here
ReplyDeleteAt it highest level teaching is both a profession and a calling. To be a teacher that possesses the knowledge/content and the ability to impart knowledge/methodology is only part of the equation. Those things can be accomplished through reading, online and in many other ways. The personal commitment and presence and involvement and dare I say caring heart of a teacher is what makes the real difference.
Teaching is a profession based on the high level and complex training required to enter the profession. It is also a profession based on the range of knowledge and skills needed to perform the work. On any given day a teacher wears so many hats it is mind boggling. Examples without detailinclude, public safety officer, fire marshall, law enforcer, military tactician, communicator (with a classroom full of different personalities parents, administrators) medidator, psychologist, health care provider and more.
Professionalism is sometimes measured by the contributions the discipliine makes to society. While greatly undervalued, teachers reach into the future by training everyone that will enter any profession. They touch lives for good or ill. When you provide this kind of service, you are the consummate professional.
I mostly definitely see teaching as a profession. Now that I'm posting at the end of the class, more than I ever would have at the beginning. Teaching is a craft. Something that provides a service to the greater public, but also something that needs to be worked at, molded, changed, and perfected. Not everyone who believes they can teach, can be effective meaningul teachers. That fact alone makes teachers professionals to be respected. Like Marie said, it takes complex training to become a teacher, but even with that training only experience will make someone a one of a kind teacher. THAT is what makes teachers professionals.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Huso completely that other "professionals" and people with opinions that may or may not matter do not view teachers as professionals. Unfortunately, this is in part shown by our dismal pay scale. However, this should not stop us from viewing ourselves as professionals and working to prove those people wrong by being great at our jobs.