Thursday
April 05, 2007
Two interesting research studies were being discussed on various education analysis sites this week. Both studies dealt with whether it makes sense to require/reward degrees for teachers.
In 21 states, BA degrees are now required for teachers in state Pre-K programs. In every state, K-12 teachers with MAs are rewarded with higher pay scales and sometimes have an easier track through recertification.
But do they work?
Yet if there’s one thing that all the research studies out there agree on, it’s that there is no relationship between having a Master’s degree and classroom effectivenes. In fact, the latest large-scale study on the issue found--incredibly--that teachers who go back to get a Master’s degree after starting teaching are actually less effective than those who don’t…
-- The Quick and the ED
Yet Diane M. Early, a researcher at UNC-Chapel Hill--and one of 19 authors of the new paper in Child Development--said there is “no clear pattern” showing a relationship between a four-year degree and positive academic outcomes for children.
--EdWeek
A degree is only as valuable as its associated program. Should salary increases be tied to Master’s degrees that don’t have a proven impact on teacher performance? Should pre-K teachers be required to get a Bachelor’s degree? And if we do think degrees should be part of teacher prep, how can we make them more worthwhile?
Leave comments below.
Labels: Conversations
Posted by jimpud2 on April 6, 2007 1:36 PM
I feel very strongly that all teachers should have bachelor’s degrees. Earning a degree provides evidence of maturity and persistence. On the other hand, I am not sure that the degree must be in education. When I worked in the Golden Apple’s alternative certification program, I saw people quickly pick up the necessary pedagogical skills even thought their degrees were in chemistry, engineering and math.
Posted by bronte on April 10, 2007 3:26 PM
The B.A. is a necessary demonstration of some level of mastery of things academic. Beyond that, I would be more interested in having teachers be masters (and lovers) of their subject matter, avid readers, travelers, posessed of curious minds and a passion for learning. I’d love for the Renaissance Man or Woman to be more evident among the teaching population - and at every grade level. How can we help kids develop a love for learning if we consider it a chore, if we don’t love learning ourselves?
Posted by jimpud2 on April 14, 2007 12:57 PM
I agree that we need teachers with solid liberal arts educations. Whether we call them renaissance folk, or just well rounded people. The NCLB requirements for teacher education (at least at high school and middle school levels) stress very narrow, subject matter oriented courses. Just another way that NCLB is bad for public education.
