What does it mean to be a professional? by Lareina Jackson

Teachers have an important role in the lives of children. Although children have many teachers in their lives, such as parents, ministers, older friends, ect., teachers are expected to give children/students important knowledge they can’t learn just anywhere.
When considering teaching as a profession there are a set of recognizable characteristics on page 494 in the text. Teachers are hired with a fixed salary and schedule. Teaching is a low paying high security job. In the school system teachers sit low on the chain of command. Like other professionals teachers are expected to take responsibility for their actions and are open to criticisms of their performance. In some schools the professionalism is deviated, but in some ways the standards met the requirements for teachers to be considered professionals.
There are organizations such as the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards to help get teachers recognized as being professionals. The organization provides support for superior teachers and establishes standards for teaching practices.
The role teacher’s play in our society cannot be replaced. Teachers are trusted to educate our children. They are expected to be committed and most teachers spend their own money on school supplies. Teachers are expected to be highly qualified. Not just anyone can be a teacher. According to the guild lines of “evolving profession” there is a process for teaching to become a full profession. Teachers should be more prepared for the job to be considered a full profession. The teacher has to be educated in the field which they teach and know what they are doing as well as know their job.
I believe the NCLB act is preventing our teachers from becoming better teachers or using their teaching skills to their full potential. The NCBL is creating bad teachers. The teachers are spending more time in the classrooms focusing on the state standardized tests. Teachers are going over test taking skills and teaching what the child needs to know to pass the tests. This leaves less room for creativity in the class room and not giving the teachers a chance to really excel. The time and money spent on NCLB could be spent on special programs to help our teachers become better teachers.
“Teach like you are the last best teacher they will have.” Olga Gomez
“Appraisals are where you get together with your team leader and agree what an outstanding member of the team you are, how much your contribution has been valued, what massive potential you have and, in recognition of all this, would you mind having your salary halved.”
Theodore Roosevelt