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One in a series called Contemporary Education Issues, this book gives an accurate, detailed account of the present state of teaching and teacher training in the United States. Pushkin explains the evolution of educational practice from the 1700s to the present, chronicles the present state of public education, and advises preservice teachers about what they have to look forward to from student teaching through career growth and evolution, including eventual disillusionment. He also describes the effects of political pressure for educational reform on teaching and teacher training. Each chapter provides a wealth of information, references, and resources. This book is ideal for anyone entering the teaching profession. It could easily be titled "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Teaching But Were Afraid to Ask." Puskin's credentials validate his point of view as an insider with experience across the spectrum of roles and responsibilities in teaching and teacher training. Experienced teachers will find this work insightful, although at times discouraging, often humorous and always completely on target. The book covers everything from avoiding potential pitfalls during student teaching to the eventual "lure of administration," which many good teachers experience as they near the top of the pay scale. Pushkin also is right on target as he describes overall trends in education, such as the recent focus on curriculum standards and statewide assessment at the expense of, as he puts it, discussions of "John Dewey and Paulo Freire." This reference is an outstanding source of information for those preparing to teach or considering teaching as a vocation. Books in the series cover migranteducation, alternative education, bilingual education, and other current educational issues. Index. Further Reading. Appendix. 2001, ABC-CLIO, 250p. PLB— James Blasingame
Overview
Even if math teachers had degrees in mathematics and more physics teachers majored or minored in physics, how would that address behavioral problems, emotionally disturbed children, apathetic parents, and decaying school buildings? How would requiring teachers to have degrees in their content areas attract better-qualified teachers? In what ways would such degrees make teachers better qualified and suited for classrooms?
In this volume, education professor Dave Pushkin, a former...