Consideration of the use of non-certified
teachers to fill vacancies must first answer
this question: "What skills, knowledge or
capabilities should a teacher possess to be
successful in the classroom?"

Teaching is an incredibly complex process
because it involves complex humans, complex
communication, complex interaction, as well
as complex intellectual, emotional and
attitudinal components.

To reduce teaching to "knowledge of the
subject" or even the skills typically
taught in a "methods course" is on the face
of it absurd. When coupled with the context
in which teaching/learning occurs, it is
inconceivable.

Whether teaching is an art or a science;
whether the pedagogical skills are more
important than the underlying beliefs and
theories; or, whether teacher training is
essential does not matter. What matters is
that we know teaching is a challenging,
complex demanding profession; that teachers
must possess many skills, understandings,
and procedures; that teaching involves
careful planning, precise execution, and
thousands of appropriate minute by minute
decisions.

We have not done a very good job of
determining which certified teachers possess
these skills, so I am not sure how we expect
to determine it for non-teachers. But until
we find ways to do so, let us not perpetuate
the teacher shortage problem by continuing
the "error of our ways" as we attempt to
find solutions to the problem.

There are many other places to look and many
other ways find relief from the problems.
Now is the time for some creative solutions
rather than despiration solutions.

By Bill Page

billpage@bellsouth.net
www.teacherteacher.com

Bill Page, billpage@bellsouth.net,
12/27/01

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