Professionalize teaching? Yes: #tellusatoday

Letters to the editor:

Commentary writer Joel Klein is correct that professionalizing teaching is long overdue, but we diverge over what that means ("Teaching our children can be a profession: Column," Opinion, Monday).

To better prepare teachers, we need to take a page from professions like medicine and law. The American Federation of Teachers has called for a universal and rigorous bar for entry into the profession with more comprehensive course work, real-world clinical experience and demonstration of teaching competency.

But Klein can't have it both ways — wanting to make teaching a profession while attacking those on the front lines. Klein would like to replace experienced educators with novices and strip educators of safeguards so teachers can be fired for any, or no, reason.

No other profession values less experience over more experience. So why would we want to get rid of veteran teachers, who are the best equipped to mentor new teachers?

We agree that those who can't teach shouldn't be in a classroom. But if due process is so bad, why is it that states and countries that have due process outperform the places where there are no such protections?

Instead of talking about professionalism, it would be more helpful for Klein and others to work to provide the support that teachers need to succeed as the professionals they are.

Randi Weingarten, president, American Federation of Teachers; Washington, D.C.

My grandmother was a second- and fourth-grade teacher, and she took pride in what she did and the impact she made on her students. Far too many of our teachers are underpaid, and that needs to be changed.

Jeff Swanson; Everett, Wash.

Comments from Facebook are edited for clarity and grammar:

Joel Klein's commentary gets to the heart of our education issues: incompetent teachers with income controlled by seniority and unions. We have two teachers in the family. Both are superb at what they do, and they hate having lousy teachers around them get equal compensation. The system is broken.

— Larry Gilbert

Klein is scapegoating teachers and seniority status for the troubles in education.

But what about the unacceptably large number of American kids in public schools today who refuse to do homework, haven't read a book, won't read a textbook, and are woefully underskilled and unmotivated?

— John Blau

We asked our followers on Twitter how they would improve the quality of teachers. Comments are edited for clarity and grammar:

Hands down, the answer is to raise wages. Talent goes where the money is.

— @bnielsen1504

I would first improve the quality of parenting.

— @newportbch

Have a supportive administration that supplies the educators what they need and encourages them to improve.

— @lecroneelectric

Teachers are more successful with smaller class sizes and more parent involvement. Today's elementary teachers are parenting!

— @michelle_loomis

Pay good teachers enough to live in the city in which they work. Happy teachers give back to their community.

— @PlumbbobGreen

Teachers need to learn how to connect more, be more tech savvy and more relevant.

— @rocket310

Have teachers let students think for themselves, and hold the students accountable.

— @StevenKissinger

For more of the conversation, follow @USATOpinion or #tellusatoday on Twitter.