Teacher in Development

Over at the English360 Blog, I came across this very interesting post:Teachers as Free Agents

I am still stewing over what exactly to say to this, but I liked it. A lot. Welcome to the classroom, and the teacher of the 21st Century. There seems to be, to me anyway, quite a shift going on in my profession. It seems like the days of “working safe” are coming to a close. What I mean by that is, the days of working for a school or language center for the rest of your teaching career are over. I guess what I mean is that, just because you are employed by a fixed place, will no longer equate income and job security.

The TESOL industry is marred by those who teach because their first language is English. By those who are just travelling through and need some extra income. By those who have no passion, no love, no vocation to be people persons, to be customer service moguls, to be real live trajectory coaches (to begin playing with the whole teacher role topic a little.) to be concerned and engaged professional developers etc.

Our industry is changing and I see that change summed up by AJ in his “For Whom the Bell Tolls” post, over at the Effortless Acquisition blog:

“…the mediocre clock-punchers are losing “security”. But great opportunities are also opening.
These opportunities boost the demand for and the power of passionate, engaged, interesting teachers…As I survey the TESOL field, for example…I find it almost laughable. The standards are incredibly low. The established field of public and private programs is ripe for destruction. How much longer will boring, grammar-translation based, unpleasant, and ineffective programs be able to survive?”

I see the teacher of the future, as being just that: PASSIONATE, ENGAGED, INTERESTING. No longer just “passing through.” I’ve seen this happening where I work. Teachers are being bumped out of their classroom by students who are fed up with the same old. They are tired of the book work. They are tired of the grammar. They want reality. They want passionate, engaged and INTERESTING (READ: relevant) classes.

I also am thinking that the teacher of the future will work to create an independant learner. Work themselves right outta a job. That is the new success. (Vs. the “How long can I feed off of you” mentality that is so widespread now.)

I like the “free agent” idea. Consultants for hire. Freelancers. No longer am I safe in one place. I am truely safe when I can nudge my student outta my nest [class] and watch them fly on their own.

Teacher role: To equip. To come along side a body in motion [trajectory coach] and help learner develop self learning skills. Then STEP AWAY and support..cheer on…but sever as much as possible, the teacher/student relationship.

Is that value added?
Are our schools value added?
Much to think on…and for now I leave.