Teacher Professionalism

LéAnn Cassidy, 57, sits in her middle school classroom in Connecticut. The 2018 Connecticut History Teacher of the Year and 2018 finalist for Connecticut Teacher of the Year, has been a classroom teacher for 34 years, but is considering retiring early.
LéAnn Cassidy, 57, sits in her middle school classroom in Connecticut. The 2018 Connecticut History Teacher of the Year and 2018 finalist for Connecticut Teacher of the Year has been a classroom teacher for 34 years, but is considering retiring early.
Christopher Capozziello for Education Week
Teaching Profession From Our Research Center Teacher Job Satisfaction Hits an All-Time Low
Just 12 percent of U.S. teachers are very satisfied with their jobs, a new survey finds.
Madeline Will, April 14, 2022
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11 min read
RC whitepaper Merrimack only classroom teacher social distance cropped
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Teaching Profession From Our Research Center A Profession in Crisis: Findings From a National Teacher Survey
The first annual Merrimack College Teacher Survey of the nation’s K-12 educators reveals stark declines in teacher morale in the past decade.
Holly Kurtz, April 14, 2022
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4 min read
Teaching is [a] work [of heart].
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Teaching Profession Q&A Why One Teacher Hates the Phrase 'Teaching Is a Calling'
EdWeek spoke to Jherine Wilkerson, who wrote a popular and provocative essay about not needing to love her students to be a good teacher.
Madeline Will, March 10, 2022
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7 min read
BRIC ARCHIVE
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School Climate & Safety Opinion Educators, This Is Our Moment to Defend the Teaching Profession
In this moment of loss, the coronavirus pandemic offers four opportunities to demand the rebirth of public education, writes Amy Stuart Wells.
Amy Stuart Wells, May 7, 2020
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5 min read
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Teaching Opinion Stop Devaluing the Wisdom of Teachers. Researchers Don't Have a Monopoly on Evidence
Too often, the education research community treats scientific evidence as the only knowledge worth having, writes Joseph Murphy.
Joseph Murphy, October 30, 2019
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4 min read
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Teaching Profession Opinion A Lesson for Donald Trump Jr., From a 'Loser Teacher'
When the president's son called out teachers for trying to "sell" students on "socialism," Gina Caneva decided it was a bridge too far.
Gina Caneva, February 14, 2019
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3 min read
Heather Burtts, an instructional coach at Birney Elementary in Tacoma, Wash., speaks into a megaphone as striking teachers listen prior to a march and rally.
Heather Burtts, an instructional coach at Birney Elementary in Tacoma, Wash., speaks into a megaphone as striking teachers listen prior to a march and rally.
Ted S. Warren/AP
Teaching Profession From 'Rotten Apples' to Martyrs: America Has Changed Its Tune on Teachers
After years of being blamed for the problems in schools, teachers are now being held up as victims of a broken system. How did the pendulum swing so quickly?
Madeline Will, September 28, 2018
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8 min read
Equity & Diversity Opinion Bad Language in the Classroom
There are differences in use of offensive language--centered around the content of the point the speaker is trying to make. Still, I am appalled (as a teacher, especially) by the degradation of language in public discourse. Before we start selectively shaming folks, I think we should look at root causes.
Nancy Flanagan, July 17, 2018
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4 min read
Teaching Profession Opinion Who Do You Picture When You Think of a Leader?
Nobody's more pragmatic than a would-be teacher leader who knows that taking on leadership roles means expanding the workload. More to the point, teacher leaders understand that the only definition of leadership that matters in education world is keeping one's promises. Getting stuff--the right stuff--done. Gender is irrelevant, they'll tell you.
Nancy Flanagan, May 31, 2018
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2 min read
School & District Management Opinion The Grinch Who Stole Teacher Appreciation Week
It's time we asked ourselves just who gets 'appreciated' once a year--and whose work is considered vital, essential and fully professional year-round, with no need for annual symbolic gestures. There's something about Teacher Appreciation Week that smacks of a pat on the head for being willing to go the distance without adequate compensation or support.
Nancy Flanagan, May 11, 2018
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2 min read
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Teaching Profession Opinion I Was a Doctor. Now I’m a Teacher. Why Don’t I Get the Same Level of Respect?
Until we remedy our pervasive denigration of teachers, public education will continue to miss the mark, writes former pediatrician Kim Talikoff.
Kim Talikoff, May 9, 2018
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4 min read
Reading & Literacy Opinion Are the Reading Wars 'Settled Science'?
I certainly hope there's never a rigid, unchanging agreement on the One Best Way to teach people of any age to read. All scholarly disciplines should undergo regular re-assessment, as research reshapes knowledge. There are still classrooms in the United States, after all, where evolution is not settled science.
Nancy Flanagan, May 2, 2018
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3 min read
Equity & Diversity Opinion What Feeds Bias in the Education World?
I'm not naïve enough to think that schools could turn hearts and minds in a K-12 generation. But could they do significant good, given the right tools and incentives?
Nancy Flanagan, April 20, 2018
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4 min read
Teaching Profession Opinion Suffering Teachers Can't Be Good Teachers
Teacher walkouts are the ultimate outcome of wringing every drop of energy, patience and creative juice out of a well-meaning workforce.
Nancy Flanagan, April 10, 2018
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3 min read
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