Our 'esteemed' school board president and our superintendent of schools have decided to not reward high school teachers for their master's degrees in education. What? Apparently, they want teachers with master's degrees in their content areas instead because, according to their beliefs, those degrees make the most difference in student achievement. So the two and a half years I studied brain development, learning styles, and the best methods to reach those learning styles is 'useless'? I could have saved myself $11,000?
I am an educator, and my job is to educate. Yes, I teach English, and when I graduated with my Bachelor's degree in English, and 67 English credits, there were varying opportunities for me. I chose to teach, which meant I had to take--and pass--the required education classes. However, as an educator, I need to know how to reach various learners and recognize their learning styles or else they won't be successful in my classroom. I could have a Master's in English, but I'm a teacher first and my subject is English.
When I explored post-secondary options, graduate school, I wanted a program that would help me become a better teacher. See, teaching isn't simply about content; it's about the whole student. The whole student includes:what is happening at home; what is happening at school; how the student learns best; what struggles the student has; and the inner conflicts of each student. A Master's in English helps me know more material, but it doesn't help me know my students. My graduate program through Regis University helped me learn about brain development, learners and their learning styles, and how to improve my classroom to work better with more students. That's, in my mind, true achievement.
No graduate program is easy, including the one at Regis, and my summers, school nights, and weekends were devoted to this program, which paid off when I earned a 4.0 at its end. That's right; straight As. Since my employer does not pay for Master's degrees, I spent the next 10 years paying off my loan. Was the entire experience worth it? Definitely. My teaching ability changed for the better, and with the skills I learned at Regis, it continues to evolve. I am considered "highly effective" and my students have tremendous academic success in college.
So now this degree isn't 'worth it'? I'm curious as to how a Master's in English would have made a difference in my job--teaching. A struggling student does not care about master's degrees; a struggling student wants a teacher who can reach her and help her learn. Students are not 'products;' they are human beings, and we need to know how to help them. This fallacious thinking from our Board president and superintendent (who has a Master's in education!) harms students more than helps them. Teachers take classes in their contents; I've regularly taken classes to help me know more content for my subject matter. I know a great deal about literature and writing. but my Master's in Education makes me a better teacher.
I find it a slap in my face that I'm not considered 'worthy' of compensatory pay based on my level of education. But I also believe this is yet another way our district "leaders" are trying to make experienced and well-educated teachers like myself leave the district. I was once a novice teacher, but I had master teachers help me grow into my profession. My Master of Arts Education: Learning and Teaching from Regis University furthered developed my abilities. What happens when only novice teachers are in the classroom? What happens when, after five years, these same teachers reach the 'top' of their salary scale? Will most leave? Definitely. What happens to our children when there are no experienced teachers working with them?
Do those in power and making these decisions care about our children? Our future?
No comments:
Post a Comment