Suggestions for better teaching

After reading the column titled, “In teaching, why not hire the best,” written by Esther J. Cepeda, I can’t resist contributing to her education.

In the first place, comparing our test results with those of other countries is senseless. Many countries do not test the same population we do. Most have filtered out those who cannot or choose not to excel academically.

Secondly, as an education professor at a local university, I have been a part of the “teacher preparation” system that she talks about. I don’t agree with the premise that “the best students” will make the best teachers. I have found that average students have more empathy with students going through the learning process. If they have had to struggle to find an effective way to learn, then they can help students with their struggles.

If you are serious about ideas that might work, read the following suggestions: smaller class size; eliminate summer vacation. (year-round school with short breaks between grading periods); night school, with certified teachers, required for students 12 or older with a C- or lower whose home environment does not encourage work completion; less restrictive curriculum — allow teacher’s creativity to exercise their passion for their subject; homogeneous grouping to allow more specific instruction aimed at the student’s needs and skills; evaluation of teachers through observation of class by a committee of parents, master teachers and administrators, combined with some measure of student achievement; reduce record keeping for teachers — free them up to be creative; require new teachers to team teach with a master teacher for their first year of their contract.

I could embellish each one of these, but space limitations will not permit.

Charles Peraino

Cary