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Effective Teaching...
by Harry and Rosemary Wong
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This article was printed from Teachers.Net Gazette,
located at http://teachers.net.
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January
2001
The Miracle
of Teachers
"If the heavens were all parchment, and the trees of the forest all
pens, and every human being were a scribe, it would be impossible to record
all that I have learned from my teachers."
Jock
Zakkai
What teachers do is nothing short of a miracle that humbles and inspires
us all.
For what you do, know that you are
respected,
indispensable, and
loved.
We don't know the last time someone thanked you for choosing teaching as a
profession. So just in case no has told you lately, "Thank you." We know
that there are many shortcomings and challenges facing educators, but as you
begin a new year let's look at some data as to why teachers are to be respected,
valued, and thanked.
You Are to Be Respected
- Standardized achievement test scores are at record highs. The results of
three major tests of educational achievement - SAT, ACT, and the National
Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) - have shown steady gains over the
past two decades. More students are taking the SAT, 34% in 1987 growing to
42% in 1994, with record levels scoring above 650 or the 92nd percentile.
Students taking Advanced Placement Tests have jumped from 78,000 in 1978 to
1,000,000 today.
- Fourth graders have made impressive scores in math and science, outperforming
their counterparts in most other countries.
- More high school students are taking advanced courses in mathematics and
science than at any other time and their mathematics and science performance
have improved.
- Black children are doing better than ever in public schools. The rate for
black children completing high school is at an historic high - 87%. The white
public school completion rate and Hispanic completion rate continue to climb
with 92% and 75%, respectively.
- A record-high 84.1% of people age 25 and older have at least a high school
diploma, up from 83.4% in 1999, and 24.5% in 1940. You are educating the masses!
- Similarly, 25.6 % of people age 25 and older have four years or more of
college compared to 4.6% in 1940.
- The dropout rate is at an all-time low of 11%, while the rates for graduation
and college attendance are at an all-time high. Between 1984 and 1998, the
percentage of students completing high school and enrolling in college rose
from 55% to 67%. Enrollment of women in college has increased to 57% of the
student population.
- America's graduate schools are the envy of the world.
You Are to Be Valued
- Today's teachers average more than $400 in expenditures from their own pockets
for school supplies and materials. While the business community bashes American
education, 3 million teachers contribute $1.2 billion to our economy.
- Public school teachers are better educated and have more classroom experience
than their predecessors. Virtually all hold a bachelor's degree and almost
half (45%) have a master's degree. Half have been educators for at least 15
years, and more than one-third (38%) have taught for two decades. You are
the best-educated group of teachers ever in the history of American education.
- Teachers certified by the National Board for Professional Teacher Standards
increased from 282 in 1995 to 4,720 in 2000 or 9524 certified since the beginning
of the program.
- Teachers work an average of 49.3 hours a week, some 13 hours more than the
average school contract requires. And yet, you are paid the lowest wages for
teachers in the industrial world.
- There are 87,125 public schools operating in this country and while the
quality varies, all but a handful are enormously successful.
- Despite the media hype surrounding a handful of tragic shootings, the incidence
of public school violence has decreased for nine consecutive years. The most
common school crime is theft, not violence. The average child is safer at
school than at home. You provide a dependable haven for children.
You Are to Be Thanked
- Sputnik. In 1958 we were told that Sputnik and the Russians were
going to dominate the universe. Today our shuttle launches are routine. We
have developed as the most advanced technological and scientific nation on
earth.
- A Nation not at Risk. In 1983 everyone was declaring "Our
Nation at Risk" because of the success of the Japanese economy. Today, we
have the healthiest economy in the world with record stock market prices,
rising wages, lowest unemployment rate, 25 percent decrease in the welfare
rolls, sustained peace, and record life expectancy numbers. By a wide margin
the U.S. is still the No. 1 industrial superpower. The United States leads
the world by all measures in the global economy, in technology, and in the
productivity of its workers. An important factor in this phenomenal accomplishment
is the high quality of American students and the schools from which they graduate.
- Our Society. Today's school environment is the most complex and difficult
in history.
100,000 children are homeless on any given night
1 million teenagers are pregnant each year
135,000 children bring guns to school every day
Homicide is the leading cause of death among minority youth aged 15 to 19
Reported child abuse increased 48 percent from 1986 to 1991
160,000 children will not go to school every day because they are afraid
of bullies
Every day 4.6 million babies spend part of their days in pre-school or licensed
day care
4 million children between the ages of 6 and 12 routinely care for themselves
before and after school without adult supervision (www.urban.org)
Yet our teachers and administrators are doing an admirable job of educating
our children with the highest test scores ever with today's diverse population.
With grateful appreciation, much of the preceding information is gleaned
from the work and report of
If you have similar data that is more current or additional data that
speaks to the value of educators, please send it to us at the address at
the end of this column. We are in this together and it's only through
sharing our accomplishments that we can have pride in our successes.
We are well aware that we have many challenges ahead of us -- even the
best football teams and spouses are not perfect -- yet this column will
probably give pleasure to the naysayers and complainers and provide an excuse
to write to us and remind us of our failures and shortcomings. These people
are forever present, but for once, as the New Year begins, we thought you'd
like to hear about some things you have done right and which are truly deserving
of some appreciation and respect.
A New Year and a New Start
Recently, we watched the American Teacher Awards while preparing for our
holiday celebrations. Having never seen the program before or knowing the
criteria for selection, we were in awe of our colleagues who unabashedly
gave their hearts to children. There wasn't a dry eye in the audience or
in our kitchen!
As the awardees so graciously accepted their statuettes, they made every
educator proud to be in the same profession. Their effectiveness in the
classroom didn't come by way of a fancy program or a gimmick. It came with
effectively managing children to unleash their potential.
Our columns, since June, have given you specific techniques on how to
manage a classroom successfully so that you can unleash the potential in
your students. These techniques have been furnished from actual teachers
and administrators in the field. The efficacy of these techniques is so
simple and dramatic that there is no reason why you cannot be an effective
teacher, too.
There is something inherently special about our profession
that allows us to close out a previous academic year and
plan for a new beginning --
a sort of annual renewal, if you will.
We used this quote by Lee Gray in our August column and it bears repeating
as you, perhaps, prepare for a new semester, begin a new calendar year,
and anticipate the new millennium. Use the information from our past columns
to tweak, refine, or start all over again.
As you begin 2001, let us remind you of your achievements and validate
your importance to the children you teach. And say with great pride and
gratitude, "Thank You!"
Happy New Year.
Harry & Rosemary Wong products: http://harrywong.com/product
This printable version is provided for the convenience of individuals.
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