Jordan Rolph
March 22, 2011
5:45 p.m.
When primary teachers in England, Japan, China, and Russia were tested on their mathematical skills, England was lagging behind in the results. CfBT Education Trust charity found a big variation in the subject knowledge of England’s trainees and suggests raising the math’s entry requirement for primary teachers. In England, to teach at primary level teachers need a grade C in math or above. Secondary mathematics teachers are required to have an A and to take specialized mathematics enhancement courses, which concentrate on the mathematical and teaching skills needed to be an effective teacher. CfBT charity conducted a two-year study on 1,400 teachers to a series of mathematical tests. England’s primary trainee teachers came second to last out of eight countries. Japan led the pack with 52.9 out of 60 followed by China with 43.1 and then Russia with 41.7. This calls for new university training schools in England to be set up and prepare new teachers. Education director at CfBT Education Trust, Tony McAleavy, said: "The establishment of university practice schools otherwise known as university training schools, is the most important decision that could be made for taking the profession forward and would ensure less variation in standards and would ensure that there would be peer support for new teachers in their first practice; something that has currently been lacking."
I find this article fascinating because it proves that education begins with our teachers. If our teachers are not qualified and cannot even comprehend what they’re learning how are they supposed to be in a classroom teaching that material? This is exactly why our education system is failing especially in the United States and England. We need to start to look at countries like Japan, Russia, and China and copy off of their education system and learning styles because they clearly know what they’re doing from the results of the test scores. We need to reequip our schools with teachers who want to be there and have the skills to be a good teacher. Along the lines with what Tony McAleavy said, we need to make sure the teachers feel that they are not alone and that they can always ask for help if they don’t understand something. Our standards need to be raised if we want our future to be positive; it all starts with the children because they are the ones who will be leading our world.
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