Teachers have always fought to be recognised as professionals. It does not help when people make comments like.....'I'll go into teaching until I get a job' or 'I don't want to be stressed while I am doing my masters so I'll teach' or when people feel sorry for you because they just assume you are teaching because you couldn't get another job. The people (not teachers) who come into the teaching service while waiting for a real job do the students and the profession an injustice.
I have always loved teaching. Seeing the 'I get it' look on the face of a student (of any age) gives me a sense of purpose in life.
What exactly is professional development? It isn't sitting down for a 5 hour lecture or workshop conducted by someone who has never stood in front of a class. It is not teaching me how to use the ePen despite the fact that we do not have plugs in the classrooms. It is certainly not doing the crossword or reading a book while some high priced non teacher tells us how to manage our students.
To me professional development goes hand in hand with personal development. Understanding that we are all different in our interests and abilities, that teaching our students to think as opposed to just passing an exam, that we must set the example every single day of our lives( practice what we preach) and that classroom management involves understanding our students, this to me shows our development as professionals. Of course, there is much much more but there is a 300 word limit. So think about it. And in everything we do, ask yourself...'Am I being professional?', ' Am I being honest?' 'Am I doing this out of love for teaching and learning?'
Hi Khadine, I agree with you fully. However, my concern is that the Ministry oof Education needs to recognise this also. Why do they police us when we try to do what they are not doing for us? They check our regularity and punctuality and ask for reports on us all the time.I do agree that there are some "bad apples" that have spoilt the bunch.But that does not make us "criminals."
ReplyDeletei hope this new minister of education recognises that professional development + personal development = national development.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI share the same sentiments with you. I believe that professional development is an on going process in learning, not only about how to improve the lives of our students across the curriculum but it also entails improving our minds during the process so that we will remain true to our passion and keep on doing the best that we can do.