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Teacher Professionalism

Read more about efforts to professionalize teaching and improve its status, and hear what teachers think about their profession

Teaching Profession Q&A Why One Teacher Hates the Phrase 'Teaching Is a Calling'

EdWeek spoke to Jherine Wilkerson, who wrote a popular and provocative essay about not needing to love her students to be a good teacher.

Madeline Will, March 10, 2022

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7 min read

School & District Management Opinion An Innovative Way to Professionalize Teaching and Boost Teacher Pay

Webs of rules, routines, and administration often stop teachers from growing in their role or bending it to suit their strengths and passions. Here's a way to bust those traps.

Rick Hess, October 8, 2020

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2 min read

Teaching Profession Opinion Educators, This Is Our Moment to Defend the Teaching Profession

In this moment of loss, the coronavirus pandemic offers four opportunities to demand the rebirth of public education, writes Amy Stuart Wells.

Amy Stuart Wells, May 7, 2020

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5 min read

Teaching Opinion Stop Devaluing the Wisdom of Teachers. Researchers Don't Have a Monopoly on Evidence

Too often, the education research community treats scientific evidence as the only knowledge worth having, writes Joseph Murphy.

Joseph Murphy, October 30, 2019

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4 min read

Teaching Profession Opinion Conservatives, It's Time for Us to Focus on Teacher Professionalism

These five policy facets of the teacher profession should take center stage for state legislatures, write Mary Scott Hunter, Mike Bileca, and John Eichelberger.

Mary Scott Hunter, Mike Bileca & John Eichelberger, March 11, 2019

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4 min read

Teaching Profession Opinion A Lesson for Donald Trump Jr., From a 'Loser Teacher'

When the president's son called out teachers for trying to "sell" students on "socialism," Gina Caneva decided it was a bridge too far.

Gina Caneva, February 14, 2019

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3 min read

Heather Burtts, an instructional coach at Birney Elementary in Tacoma, Wash., speaks into a megaphone as striking teachers listen prior to a march and rally.

Teaching Profession From 'Rotten Apples' to Martyrs: America Has Changed Its Tune on Teachers

After years of being blamed for the problems in schools, teachers are now being held up as victims of a broken system. How did the pendulum swing so quickly?

Madeline Will, September 28, 2018

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8 min read

Equity & Diversity Opinion Bad Language in the Classroom

There are differences in use of offensive language--centered around the content of the point the speaker is trying to make. Still, I am appalled (as a teacher, especially) by the degradation of language in public discourse. Before we start selectively shaming folks, I think we should look at root causes.

Nancy Flanagan, July 17, 2018

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4 min read

Teaching Profession Opinion Who Do You Picture When You Think of a Leader?

Nobody's more pragmatic than a would-be teacher leader who knows that taking on leadership roles means expanding the workload. More to the point, teacher leaders understand that the only definition of leadership that matters in education world is keeping one's promises. Getting stuff--the right stuff--done. Gender is irrelevant, they'll tell you.

Nancy Flanagan, May 31, 2018

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2 min read

School & District Management Opinion The Grinch Who Stole Teacher Appreciation Week

It's time we asked ourselves just who gets 'appreciated' once a year--and whose work is considered vital, essential and fully professional year-round, with no need for annual symbolic gestures. There's something about Teacher Appreciation Week that smacks of a pat on the head for being willing to go the distance without adequate compensation or support.

Nancy Flanagan, May 11, 2018

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2 min read

Teaching Profession Opinion I Was a Doctor. Now I’m a Teacher. Why Don’t I Get the Same Level of Respect?

Until we remedy our pervasive denigration of teachers, public education will continue to miss the mark, writes former pediatrician Kim Talikoff.

Kim Talikoff, May 9, 2018

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4 min read

Reading & Literacy Opinion Are the Reading Wars 'Settled Science'?

I certainly hope there's never a rigid, unchanging agreement on the One Best Way to teach people of any age to read. All scholarly disciplines should undergo regular re-assessment, as research reshapes knowledge. There are still classrooms in the United States, after all, where evolution is not settled science.

Nancy Flanagan, May 2, 2018

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3 min read

Equity & Diversity Opinion What Feeds Bias in the Education World?

I'm not naïve enough to think that schools could turn hearts and minds in a K-12 generation. But could they do significant good, given the right tools and incentives?

Nancy Flanagan, April 20, 2018

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4 min read

Teaching Profession Opinion Suffering Teachers Can't Be Good Teachers

Teacher walkouts are the ultimate outcome of wringing every drop of energy, patience and creative juice out of a well-meaning workforce.

Nancy Flanagan, April 10, 2018

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3 min read

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