Quality teaching a lofty goal

There's a familiar saying, "When you don't want to see what's happening, look the other way." Well, it's time to stop looking the other way, because the possibility for qualified teachers to hold strong credentials, but use weak teaching practices does exist.

Children today have an opportunity to receive a quality education. Yet, on occasion we skip or miss school visits to observe the quality of teaching.

Quality teaching goes beyond students being productive. It includes the very best in education by a well-prepared teacher, one who prepares in advance and uses multiple teaching activities. One who decides how fast to present each lesson, then adjusts the pace to fit every child. Teaching occurs in a way that limits interruptions, maintains enough work for all students and keeps behavior in check.

Unfortunately, quality is not the same at every school. In poor neighborhoods, schools that face teacher shortages hire unskilled teachers more often than wealthy schools.

In addition to location, good quality has much to do with guidance, assistance and supplies provided for teachers. Also, quality is affected by the social, physical and emotional support given to children.

Although some teachers work harder than others at helping children achieve, most are dedicated. Many who stay in the profession request the resources needed to do a better job and they continue to expect the best from students. However, highly skilled teachers may or may not replace the ones who leave teaching after they gain experience working with children of various ethnic and racial backgrounds.

Let's be clear: High quality teaching is top-notch, competent teachers giving their untiring attention for children to excel at learning. It's unlike the classroom where the teacher acts unconcerned, serving the role of a babysitter, wasting valuable teaching time. In such situations, students recognize the loss and generally comment, "My teacher is boring and when my work is done, there's nothing to do except wait for class to end."

An eye-opening clue, this comment is reason to think that perhaps the teaching is low-quality, too.

Dr. Theresa Bey is an education ambassador who speaks and writes about education. She lives in Stone Mountain.