Who Will Teach? : Policies That Matter

Singer, Judith D., Murnane, Richard J., Willett, John B., Kemple, James J., Olsen, Randall J.

ISBN 10: 0674951921 / ISBN 13: 9780674951921

Published by Harvard University Press, 1991

Former library copy. Pages intact with possible writing/highlighting. Binding strong with minor wear. Dust jackets/supplements may not be included. Includes library markings. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good. Seller Inventory # 12489884-75

Synopsis:

Will America find enough good teachers to staff its public schools? How can we ensure that all our children will be taught by skilled professionals? The policies that determine who teaches today are a confusing and often conflicting array that includes tougher licensing requirements, higher salaries, mandatory master's degrees, merit pay, and alternative routes to certification. Who Will Teach? examines these policies and separates those that work from those that backfire.

The authors present an intriguing portrait of America's teachers and reveal who they are, who they have been, and who they will be. Using innovative statistical methods to track the professional lives of more than 50,000 college graduates, the book describes, in many cases for the first time, just how prospective, current, and former teachers respond to the incentives and disincentives they face. The authors, a group of noted educators, economists, and statisticians, find cause for serious concern. Few academically talented college graduates even try teaching, and many of those who do leave quickly, never to return. Current licensing requirements stifle innovation in training and dissuade many potentially talented teachers at the outset.

But Who Will Teach? shows that we can reverse these trends if we get the incentives right. Although better salaries are essential, especially for new teachers, money is not enough. Potential teachers should be offered alternative paths into the classroom. School districts should improve their recruiting strategies. Licensing criteria should assess teaching skills, not just academic achievement and number of courses completed. The authors offer a promising strategy based on high standards and substantial rewards.

About the Authors: Judith D. Singer is Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Education, Harvard University.

John B. Willett is Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Education, Harvard University.

Bibliographic Details

Title: Who Will Teach? : Policies That Matter
Publisher: Harvard University Press
Publication Date: 1991
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Very Good
Edition: 1 Edition.