ERIC Number: ED392762
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1995-Feb-21
Pages: 60
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Bonfires and Magic Bullets. Making Teaching a True Profession: The Step without Which Other Reforms Will Neither Take nor Endure. Revised.
Saphier, Jonathon D.
This paper proposes a way to professionalize teaching based on internal change and six knowledge bases of professional teaching. Key features of this approach are: (1) it proposes professionalization from within through active involvement from schools and districts; (2) it includes the knowledge base in generic pedagogy (composed of communication of expectations, class climate, personal relationship building, clarity, principles of learning, models of teaching, curriculum planning and lesson design, attention, and momentum) as a vital ingredient; (3) it proposes a new way of thinking about the nature of professional knowledge as built around areas of performance, repertoire, and matching (the ability to draw from a repertoire the best response to match a given situation); (4) it outlines a campaign for changing public attitudes that is necessary for generating the national support required to fund professionalization; (5) it takes a systems approach to professionalization; and (6) it proposes a functional model for integrating the elements of this system and for beginning right away. The proposal covers the following topics: why professionalization is important, obstacles, changes in teacher education, effecting change, and creating a national professional organization. Appendixes contain information on six knowledge bases of professional teaching, teacher beliefs, and teacher competencies in the six knowledge bases. (Contains 38 references.) (JB)
Descriptors: Beliefs, Change Strategies, Educational Change, Elementary Secondary Education, Higher Education, Knowledge Base for Teaching, Parent Participation, Pedagogical Content Knowledge, Preservice Teacher Education, Professional Associations, Professional Occupations, Standards, Teacher Attitudes, Teacher Competencies, Teaching (Occupation)
Publication Type: Opinion Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Research for Better Teaching, Carlisle, MA.
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A