In his "Redefining Teachers with a 21st Century Education ‘Story’", author Thom Markham attempts to capture the current challenge teachers face in today's education system. In order to turn teachers away from the "undertone of resignation, cynicism, or even learned helplessness" that sometimes heavily impacts teaching environments, Markham describes a concise and important list of changes to teacher dispositions that must occur to meet the expectations of "the most enviable, challenging, fulfilling role possible in the 21st century." While author Markham reiterates many of the same pieces of advice that echo through so many of the papers we've read and videos we've watched in the credential program of CSUSM, what differs is his strict adherence to feelings positivity and excitement for the current teachers of the world, despite the immense difficulties of the challenges that face us.
One can easily see that author Markham's target audience is not just the new teachers like me, but the many disenfranchised teachers who have given up on the vision they may have had when they were new. Markham offers these teachers a new chance, taking the role of the "good cop" in the well-known metaphor. I'm certain that these veteran teachers of very long and lost wars have been told year after year to make these changes, but by authoritative administration that don't offer the support to make these changes. Sometimes it only takes a slight difference in tone to make the changes seem much more achievable. This author exemplifies a position in teaching that we as new teachers should seek to take when finding our places in schools across the district, state, and country. This position is one that accepts that the job of teachers is difficult, hard to quantify, and vital to the future of the country. While these facets of the job make getting up in the morning almost terrifying, we should feel equally excited to take this profession. We must be honored to be teachers in the most amazing period of time for education. Read "Redefining Teachers with a 21st Century Education 'Story' here!
Image and article retrieved from: Markham, Thom. "Redefining Teachers with a 21st Century Education ‘Story’." MindShift. N.p., 11 Feb. 2015. Web. 14 Nov. 2016.
1 Comment
Kristen Runge
12/9/2016 07:50:19 am
Great blog post! I especially liked when you said, "This position is one that accepts that the job of teachers is difficult, hard to quantify, and vital to the future of the country. While these facets of the job make getting up in the morning almost terrifying..." Yes teaching is hard, and hard to quantify but, I luckily have yet to wake up terrified. I think it is easier and helpful when people like Markham discuss the profession of teaching in a more positive tone.
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