Chapter Two 

Teaching as a Profession

      Teaching is a sophisticated and complicated professional activity requiring extensive academic and professional preparation.

      A teacher requires an array of knowledge in many academic areas.

• Chapter Two•  • Teaching as a Profession•  • Teaching is a sophisticated and complicated professional activity requiring extensive academic and professional preparation.• A teacher requires an array of knowledge in many academic areas.•  • What you will learn:•  • Every profession has specific hallmarks that define its organization as well as its purposes for its members and the public.• A goal of teacher organizations, such as the National Educational Association and the American Federation of Teachers, is to help teachers become professionals.• As society becomes more complex, the problems teachers encounter in the classroom are reflected in teacher organizations.•  • Defining the profession•  • Is teaching an occupation or vocation?•  • How do we define professionals and profession?• We want you to have a clear idea of these terms mean to teaching and teaching organizations.•  1. Hallmarks of a Professional• A professional is an individual who performs a unique task that sets him or her apart from society.• This task is important to society• Individual agrees to follow a special code of ethic’s• Professional organizations guarantees that those with certain knowledge and skills meet high standards (hallmarks)• 1.      A unique set of knowledge and skills to offer society• 2.      A code of ethics agree on by all members of the profession• 3.      A professional organization         Unique knowledge – an organized set of skills and information that individuals obtain through advanced education in an accredited institution or university.         Code of Ethics – members agree to act in a certain fashion         Organization – associations of individuals with similar skills who agree on a specific code of ethics.•  2. The Professionalism of Teacher         While it is true that some teacher organizations have a code of ethics, teachers cannot be disciplined by their professional organizations in the same way as lawyers or doctors.         Is there a professional teacher organization you must join to be recognized as a professional?• 1.      Ensuring the Quality of Teachers   Perhaps the major reason teaching is not considered a profession is that teachers have difficulty transferring the unique knowledge learned in teacher prep programs to classrooms.   Many schools do not have sophisticated mentoring programs to help beginning teachers understand the practical problems of classrooms.• 2.      Certification, or Licensure of all teachers.   Teacher certification legally endorses those who we call teachers to teach children.   It is a privilege   Teacher certification procedures vary greatly from state to state.   The state’s license is the final document an individual receives from the state department of education that allows her/him to teach      In some states (Oklahoma), a license allows you to be employed after graduation by a local school district for a period of time which completing program.• 3.      Alternative Certification Programs.      Allows college graduates to teach in classroom even though they do not have teaching certificates.•  3. Professional Standards Boards• 48 state legislatures have developed professional standards boards• Define minimum competency of teacher would know         National Board for Professional Teaching Standards      The purpose of the NBPTS is to provide strong leadership on behalf of those in the profession in explaining to states what should be the criteria for the certification of teachers.      Assessment of teacher competency.         National Board Certification of Teachers      Voluntary advanced teaching credential•  4. Professional Teacher Organizations     Figure 2.1 on p. 36     National Education Association (NEA)     Local and State NEA and AFT Affiliates     Comparison of the NEA and AFT p.40•  •  •  5. Problems facing Teaching Organizations     Public Perceptions     Educational Goals and Expense     Improving Working Conditions•  •  •  •  •  

• Defining the profession•  • Is teaching an occupation or vocation?•  • How do we define professionals and profession?• We want you to have a clear idea of these terms

mean to teaching and teaching organizations.

1. Hallmarks of a Professional• A professional is an individual who performs a unique task that sets him or her apart

from society.• This task is important to society• Individual agrees to follow a special code of ethic’s• Professional organizations guarantees that those with certain knowledge and skills

meet high standards (hallmarks)• 1.      A unique set of knowledge and skills to offer society• 2.      A code of ethics agree on by all members of the profession• 3.      A professional organization         Unique knowledge – an organized set of skills and information that

individuals obtain through advanced education in an accredited institution or university.

        Code of Ethics – members agree to act in a certain fashion         Organization – associations of individuals with similar skills who agree on a

specific code of ethics.

1. The Professionalism of Teacher         While it is true that some teacher

organizations have a code of ethics, teachers cannot be disciplined by their professional organizations in the same way as lawyers or doctors.

        Is there a professional teacher organization you must join to be recognized as a professional?

• 1.      Ensuring the Quality of Teachers   Perhaps the major reason teaching is not

considered a profession is that teachers have difficulty transferring the unique knowledge learned in teacher prep programs to classrooms.

  Many schools do not have sophisticated mentoring programs to help beginning teachers understand the practical problems of classrooms.

  Teacher certification legally endorses those who we call teachers to teach children.

  It is a privilege   Teacher certification procedures vary greatly from

state to state.   The state’s license is the final document an individual

receives from the state department of education that allows her/him to teach

      In some states (Oklahoma), a license allows you to be employed after graduation by a local school district for a period of time which completing program.

• 1.      Alternative Certification Programs.      Allows college graduates to teach in

classroom even though they do not have teaching certificates.

1. Professional Standards Boards• 48 state legislatures have developed professional standards

boards• Define minimum competency of teacher would know         National Board for Professional Teaching Standards       The purpose of the NBPTS is to provide strong

leadership on behalf of those in the profession in explaining to states what should be the criteria for the certification of teachers.

      Assessment of teacher competency.         National Board Certification of Teachers       Voluntary advanced teaching credential

1. Professional Teacher Organizations      Figure 2.1 on p. 36      National Education Association (NEA)      Local and State NEA and AFT Affiliates      Comparison of the NEA and AFT p.40•  

1. Problems facing Teaching Organizations      Public Perceptions      Educational Goals and Expense      Improving Working Conditions

•