A Missing Piece in Teacher Prep

Two people last week actually asked why I haven't posted in a couple of weeks. They said they missed me!!! Aw, shucks.

Anyway...

There was a pretty good op-ed on teacher preparation in the NYTimes a coupla days ago.

I wrote a letter right back at them. (I do this occasionally, and, occasionally, they publish one.*)

In my letter, I pointed out that in order for teachers to "know children," as the writer suggests, they must know their families. They must know how to deal with varieties of parents--the anxious ones, the hostile ones, the ones who take their religions very seriously. They must understand what makes such parents tick/get ticked off. They must have practice communicating with parents. They must understand why parents are very important customers. (NOT more important than kids, but almost as...**) Especially if a teacher isn't a parent, they must be sensitized. What is it like to give up your heart's desire for six or more hours every day? To entrust this (little innocent darling/gangly hypertexting avatar) to someone you do not know? Teachers don't have to be parents, of course, but they have to get this, I think.

New teachers, or almost-teachers, must decide if they like this aspect of the job, the parent whispering. I didn't. Mostly I didn't because I had to be self-taught in this department. (Teachers College is as great as Arne Duncan says, but, at least back then, there wasn't much offered in this particular department.) Eventually, I got it figured out, and then my teaching blossomed. Once parents bought in, my road was a lot smoother. But it should not have been such a hit-or-miss proposal.

* Alas, not this time.

** And if I haven't already, I just want to point out that kids are the #1 customers. They just don't know it. But if they ever figured it out...