Investing in Education is Investing in the Economy

President Obama used his first congressional address to highlight the importance of investing in our nation's education system. He renewed his pledge that the $100 billion in stimulus funds for education must come with reform. "We know the countries that out-teach us today will out-compete us tomorrow....this is a prescription for economic decline."

How should the funds be used? Many are suggestion investing in the school building structures or technology. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan told a group of chief state school officers that they are just 30-45 days from receiving stimulus funds. What are your thoughts?

Our Greatest National Shame: Education?

In a recent New York Times Op-Ed, Nicholas Kristof admits that he now thinks education is our nation's number one priority. He says that by investing billions of dollars in our education system is a sound investment, and one that protects our future.

Kristof notes that the single most important factor within education is the quality of a teacher.

"One of the greatest injustices is that America’s best teachers overwhelmingly teach America’s most privileged students. In contrast, the most disadvantaged students invariably get the least effective teachers, year after year — until they drop out. This stimulus package offers a new hope that we may begin to reform our greatest national shame, education, " writes Kristof.

NCTAF has been leading the charge on providing all children with a competent, caring teaching in every classroom since 1996 when we first published "What Matters Most: Teaching for America's Future."

It has been 13 years since that report has first been published. Has it taken a national economic crisis for our nation to invest in education? Where will education be 13 years from now?

Veteran Teachers: Valued Experience & Knowledge

In the current issue of Education Week, one teacher wrote about her experience learning from her colleagues, and how the wisdom and experience of veteran educators help her improve her professional growth and the learning of all students.

"These veteran educators became an integral part of my development as a teacher. Some argue that great teachers have innate qualities they cannot learn from others, and that (extending such reasoning) urban education would work if we could just get “the best and the brightest” into the classroom. My experience suggests otherwise: All the motivation, commitment, and raw talent in the world would not have amounted to much without the invaluable on-the-job training I received at that critical point in my teaching career. This reality takes on increased relevance as the national discussion about investing in human capital intensifies," writes the teacher.

However, there is something else to consider. About 53% of our teaching workforce are baby boomers, and they're rapidly approaching retirement. How can we keep them engaged in education? We can't let them take years of knowledge and experience with them. Instead of retiring, what if a valued veteran teacher could act as a mentor and support for new teachers – part time work that would afford her some income and encourage her to impart experience-based knowledge. What are your thoughts?

NSDC's New Report: Professional Learning in the Learning Profession

"Learning is no longer preparation for the job...it is the job." -Tom Carroll, NCTAF President

Yesterday, NSDC released its new report on professional development. The report finds that while the United State is making progress in proving support and mentoring for new teachers and focusing on strengthening content knowledge, the type of support and on-the-job training most teachers receive is episodic and fragmented.

"Teacher quality is one of our top two priorities," said Secretary of Education Arne Duncan in his opening remarks. He stressed the need to make sweeping, bold changes in education without regard to ideology.

The report commends schools for provide support for new teachers, but says mentoring and induction must go further. One-shot mentoring or workshop approaches are not effective in improving teaching and learning.

How can schools provide quality, professional development in the learning age? What are some successful, model programs being implemented in your state?