New Teacher's College Program

While I know that someone has already posted about the new Teacher's College Program I wanted to give my 2 cents as someone who just graduated from the Faculty of Education on Wednesday.

I truly have mixed feelings about the two year program.  As many people have mentioned already, it is a benefit if all that it does is stop there from being new teacher's college graduates for one year to hopefully soak up some people into the job market.  Other than that, though, I'm sceptical that it will truly make a difference.

I truly found that the only time I learned anything useful about teaching this year was during my practicum experiences.  The time spent in class was an utter waste of time.  We listened to professors drone on about differentiated instruction, inclusive lesson planing, inquiry-based learning, community classroom etc. without every learning what any of those would look like when implemented.  We also learned next to no content.  You would think that PM Benchmarking––an evaluation done to all students from Grades 1 - 3 a couple of times a year to assess their reading level––would be mentioned at some point in Language's Arts class... but it was not.  You would think students would have a chance to use manipulatives, interactive software and try the "new" math methods in class... alas it was not so.  Assignments were make-work projects intended solely to find some way to try and differentiate you from your peers with some sort of grade and served no learning purpose whatsoever.

The only way I could see the new two year program being a positive change is if the second year is spent completely on practicum.  While it would undoubtably be a burden to associate teachers, I think it would be an amazing experience as a student teacher to be present in the classroom from September - June.  Not only would you be able to see the students progress throughout the year, but you would be present in the crucial first month of school where experienced teachers develop routines, discipline, and a rapport with their class that has already been established by the end of October when student teachers first walk in to the classroom.

So while I welcome the changes to the Faculty of Ed. in terms of lowering the number of graduates, I think that a second year of "classes" will only be what the first year was... a waste of time.