Trust = Freedom

What impressed me most about the articles on Finnish schools was the apparent sense of freedom with which teachers could instruct. While I can’t say I feel entirely restricted in what and how I teach now, there is definitely a core set of guidelines with which I have to operate. What resonates most when hearing that Finnish teachers can choose their curriculum, and exercise freedom in how and what they teach, is the word “trust”. I guess it’s a response to professionalizing teaching. When you believe there are quality teachers in the classroom, you can foster this sense of trust between administrators, parents and the teachers. With the scripted programs that are entering the US classrooms, I see it directly correlates with the lack of trust and belief that we can do a good job. After reading about the quality of teachers in certain areas due to the inequality in spending, I don’t blame these decisions to implement these restrictive programs. As a first year teacher, I invited the idea of a scripted program. I knew I couldn’t screw up with tools like that at my disposal. Just read the text and I’ll do just fine! It just highlights how inadequately prepared I was to teach in the classroom having supposedly gone through “rigorous training”.

Taking a closer look at teacher preparation programs in the US, and how they vary drastically from one school to the next, there is much to be improved. Not only does it seem wise to invest in teacher professional development, but also it seems there should be time and resources invested in re-evaluating the effectiveness of training programs before teachers even hit the classroom. I don’t know how many people I have encountered that tell me how much they admire my profession and what I do, but yet I still never get a sense that they see me as a professional. Nobody seems interested in learning more about my job or what it is I do on a daily basis. In the US, teaching still has a reputation as being a job that anyone can do. So how can so many people make remarks about the respect they have for teachers, yet inherently disrespect the profession in believing anyone could do it?

Perhaps, I’m alone in thinking that I’m proud of what I do in the classroom, but aren’t necessarily proud to tell people what I do. Teaching just doesn’t get the valuation and honor it deserves in this country. Is this somehow tied to the inadequacies that are highlighted in California’s situation with regards to poor teacher quality in certain areas? I would hate for any parent to question, is this one of the good teachers or not, when their child enters my classroom. It would seem parents abroad would not even think along these lines. They would just know and trust that any teacher in the Finnish school system, for example, would be a professional and know what they are doing. Creating a consistency in training and equality in funding across the US could perhaps lead to greater trust. They say the parent-teacher relationship is vital in creating a healthy school environment, but when there is so much disparity from one teacher to the next, how can we expect parents to trust we know what we are doing?