US Teacher Training Gets 'F' From Panel

Teach for America sheds light on two decades of insight

(NEWSER) - Teach for America is opening its books on 20 years of trial and error in figuring out what makes some teachers great and others complete busts. As it screens college applicants, it now pays special attention to two characteristics: perseverance and life satisfaction. By perseverance, it means "not just an attitude, but a track record" on overcoming challenges, writes Amanda Ripley in the Atlantic . If an applicant turned around mediocre grades in the last two years of college, for instance, that's more telling than overall GPA. More»

(NEWSER) - Sarah Fine arrived to teach at an inner-city school 4 years ago, ready to “‘give back’ after spending 22 years in a suburban, Ivy League bubble,” she writes in the Washington Post. Now, like so many other young teachers, she’s leaving—not just because she’s burned out, but also because she’s frustrated with how her profession is seen. In today’s ambitious generation, “it's unfathomable that anyone with real talent would want to stay in the classroom for long.” More»

Ditty 'not worth teaching,' government says

(NEWSER) - Generations of frustrated schoolchildren have grumbled that “i before e except after c” isn’t worth learning because of numerous exceptions. Now the British government agrees, the BBC reports. In a document sent to 13,000 primary schools, officials say the ditty “is not worth teaching” because it’s easier to learn specific words like “receive” and “ceiling” without it. More»

(NEWSER) - A British teachers’ group thinks homework for children under 11 is a waste of time for all involved, the Telegraph reports. It can “damage parents and children's relationships when trying to get it all done, and ends in tears all round,” the Association of Teachers and Lecturers said. And homework can be seriously detrimental. “At this stage in their lives homework mitigates against children who already have difficulties,” such as single parent homes or disability. More»

City sets new Facebook rules

(NEWSER) - Facing growing controversy over teachers contacting students online, New York City is taking matters into its own hands: The city has created its first set of rules regarding how teachers should operate on Facebook and beyond. Teachers are forbidden from "friending" students on Facebook and following them on Twitter, NPR reports. They are, however, allowed to have professional Facebook pages that the kids can follow. More»