How is a teacher like a doctor?
Is teaching a profession? A semi-profession? A sort-of profession? One of the things that usually comes up in debating this as-yet-unresolved question is the issue of self-regulation. Doctors and lawyers can get rid of bad doctors and lawyers who are a blot on the profession. Teachers can’t.
A step in the right direction, though, would give good teachers a role in preparing newcomers to the field. Perhaps a year of teaching under the supervision of an acknowledged expert–a residency requirement– would be a step in that direction.
The experts over at National Journal’s education blog weigh in on the idea of one-year residencies for teachers.
