Reflection Paper 1

Teacher preparation programs have evolved from colonial times to the
present day because in colonial times all that you basically needed to teach were the basics such as reading, writing, and a little math. Not all teachers were as educated as they are today; some scarcely even knew how to read. Teachers in the world of today are required to know all major subjects thoroughly as well as other things such as classroom management, social skills, etc. Nearly 70 years ago the number of teachers that had a degree was less than half. In today’s society, teachers must have at least a college bachelor’s degree or even higher to be even considered obtaining a job as a teaching instructor. Things have advanced so much that what was required in the early years would never be accepted in today’s world. Now, we have to go through many years of schooling as well as having the proper training needed to fulfill what is required. With the 1980’s reform effort and the controversial role of teach for America in the preparation of teachers, I would have to disagree with the statement that undergraduate programs make teachers with limited capability. I think that undergraduate programs are a perfect way to gain experience to become a great teacher in the future. To be in an environment where you’ll be in the future will help one to understand the responsibilities of a teacher and learn the basics to manage a class room. They will be able to experience what being a teacher is really like and will be able to see if it is what they are really interested in pursuing. If there weren’t any undergraduate programs I don’t think that we would be able to get a true grasp of what being a teacher is all about. I think that it is always good to have an example or be apart for something you want to do in the future. At least then you have a better understanding of what to expect when the time comes for you to be in that position later on.