How to Make Better Teachers

As winter winds down, many students in Massachusetts turn their attention to the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System tests. The MCAS evaluates whether and to what degree students have mastered the basic content and skills the Department of Education has determined to be appropriate for Massachusetts students at several age/grade levels.

But of course teachers are also judged by these so called "high stakes" tests. Students' learning is facilitated and enhanced by the materials available in the classrooms and libraries, the class sizes, the design/comfort and security of the schools, the available co-curricular and athletic opportunities, and certainly also the encouragement and support provided at home. However, we all acknowledge that it is the teacher-student interaction that is paramount in the educational process. Expert teachers are fundamental; they are the most important school resources.

As a recent cover story in Time magazine observed, American public schools are struggling to attract and retain high-quality teachers. Everyone wants great teachers in our classrooms, but how do we make great teachers? Here's the article from the Feb. 25, 2008 issue of Time, and here's a related article on how teachers are trained in countries that top the international rankings in education. What do you think?