NCTAF/MetLife Forums in WA, IL, NY
Teaching Alone in A Flat World
Induction is Critical
In a time when Americans are described as "bowling alone", the increasingly obsolete concept of "teaching alone" is undermining the ability to ensure that all children receive a quality education. It is ironic that, in today's "flat" global society in which geo-economics and technology forces are fundamentally changing many aspects of our lives, teachers continue to work in isolation, generally left to sink or swim while struggling to be all things to all students. We must transform our schools into strong learning communities where principals, teachers, students, and parents receive the support they need to collectively engage in a common effort to improve learning.
Collaborative professional communities have rapidly accelerated the quality of work in such fields as health care, engineering, law, and architecture. However when teachers first begin their careers, they are often left to fend for themselves - not having the time nor the opportunity to collaborate with their colleagues.
In an interdependent world, where collaboration is the norm for all other forms of business and professional work, teaching can no longer be a stand-alone profession.
Why is that important?
Because teachers tell us that they leave the profession when they feel they do not have the collegial support needed to be successful in the classroom. Research shows that well designed induction for new teachers can turn this around. Mentoring new teachers in school communities that support professional growth from day one should be the goal of successful induction programs. The most recent report from the MetLife Foundation, the MetLife Survey of the American Teacher: Transitions and the Role of Supportive Relationships paints a detailed picture of the supportive school climate that is necessary to sustain principals and teachers as they progress from novices to experienced educators. The National Commission on Teaching and America's Future (NCTAF) also provides detailed recommendations for giving new teachers a strong start, through its policy paper Induction Into Learning Communities.
The MetLife Foundation and the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future sponsored three forums in Seattle, WA; Chicago, IL; and New York, NY. For more information about the forums, click on the following links:
The forums will serve as a platform to focus opinion leaders, policy makers, practitioners and the media around the importance of developing collaborative work environments in schools through developing and funding mentored induction programs that will reduce teacher turnover and improve student learning.
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