According to an article in the Chicago Sun-Times, the state of Illinois has been ranked fifteenth in the United States and has a seventy-seven percent high school graduation rate within our public school systems (Herrmann 1). In relation to this fact, the training, hiring, and evaluations of educators in the Untied States, and in the state of Illinois specifically, are very important when it comes to the quality of schooling that our students receive. Education is a key issue that Illinois elected officials have addressed in order to improve the excellence in our school systems. A high standard of education is vital because the students in our schools are the future of our country. Recently, the state of Illinois has seen positive developments in Illinois education systems and test scores due to the requirements in the training, hiring, and evaluation procedures for public school teachers and has made the cycle of education a more effective system.
The state of Illinois's training programs are very qualified for preparing future teachers for the school systems. According to Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, "...high-quality teachers are the single most important factor in securing a good education" (Durbin 1). The loss of quality education is very difficult to gain back once a student has fallen behind because a teacher is not qualified for the subject he or she is teaching. Senator Durbin also states, "... we need to focus on recruiting and retaining strong teachers, especially in high-need schools and critical subject areas" (Durbin 1). This shows that Illinois elected officials, especially Senator Richard Durbin, are very concerned with the education of our state as well as how it is seen when compared to other states in America.
Training of prospective teachers is regarded as a very important procedure filled with specific curriculum and required tests that are authorized by state as well as federal governments. Illinois has a testing system called the Illinois Certification Testing System or ICTS. These series of exams test students' knowledge during their journey of becoming a teacher. It includes the basic skills test, which determines if a student is qualified to enter a college level educations program and also has other tests that a soon-to-be teacher must pass in order to gain a teaching certificate (Illinois Certification Testing System (ICTS) Home Page 1). This testing system is fairly new and did not exist twenty years ago. This is one of the many ways Illinois is improving the eminence of the training method of teachers.
The training methods of veteran teachers have also improved and therefore give the students greater opportunities in the future. Veteran teachers are also re-trained in seminars usually held in the summer time that give teachers information on technology advances as well as new teaching methods that they can use to better inform their students. Teachers that want to get a refreshment on their education and methods of teaching as well as an increase in pay can also get a higher degree in their field of expertise (Bushaw 14). There are many opportunities for teachers to gain more knowledge on how to teach, as well as programs and testing that require the teachers of Illinois to be the absolute best that they can be in order to make sure that Illinois's youth is prepared for the future in every way possible.
The state of Illinois has claimed nineteen of the one hundred spots on the list of the Worst Public Schools in the United States ("Worst Public Schools in the USA - Neighborhood Scout 1). The state government has been trying to improve this by the training, hiring and evaluating of teachers as well as using different programs to jump start Illinois's education program. The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has adopted "new, more rigorous learning standards" so that students will be better equipped for college and working. These standards, called Common Core State Standards, are replacing the once established in 1997. Although there are fewer standards, they are set to a higher level and they are more understandable than the previously established goals. These Common Core Standards define the amount of knowledge that a student should gain from their K-12 education. The developers of the new standards specialists within in certain content areas as well as teachers and administrators; they are also asking for feedback on the effectiveness of these standards so that the founders can make sure they are realistic and efficient ("Common Core Standards" 1).
The program called Race to the Top was developed as a competition between states to lead in four areas: "Improving the use of standards and assessments, increasing the use of data, increasing the effectiveness of teachers, and improving struggling schools". If Illinois successfully improves these aspects of its education programs, it will benefit Illinois as a state as well as teachers and administrators because four hundred million dollars will be given to the state government. This money will be used for technology in schools, improvements of facilities, and many other beneficial causes ("Illinois Race to the Top" 1). The Race to the Top Program and the ISBE Standards are only two of the many strategies Illinois is using to progress the education level. It is true, at certain times Illinois and the public schools have been seen to be of low-quality, but officials of the State Government and the Illinois State Board of Education are obviously working hard towards improving the image of education in Illinois not only through the teachers themselves, but also the programs that the teachers use and enforce in the classroom.
The hiring of teachers in the Illinois education system has certain standards, and careful decisions so that the state has a great schooling program. Standards are held by the government as well as by citizens of the state to how the school should be educating the future of our country. According to the book Teachers for Our Nation's Schools, educator must possess some of the reasonable expectations listed in the second chapter. The book states that as a nation, "The answer is not to lower our education expectations, however, but to state them clearly" (Goodlad 43). This supports the new standards because the Common Core Standards are developed clear-cut and defined so that a student's expected success rate would be more easily identifiable. Teachers for Our Nation's Schools also states we need to hire teachers that have moral standards, need to be the best educated citizens in the community, they must be responsible, have a broad knowledge of many subjects, give equal opportunities to learn and they need to have a great drive for education (Goodlad 43-44). Each of these expected criterions of a teacher seem to be very accurate of how teachers would be hired.
Of course, teachers are compelled to receive their degree from a good school, and they have to be well qualified with positive recommendations, but they must also be of superior moral character. As a state, Illinois should also be able to pride themselves on the work ethic as well as knowledge of their students. Teachers can also give these qualities to the children they are teaching. All in all, educators in Illinois are of high quality because they are hired based on many different aspects of their lives such as where they went to college and how well they did when attending the school, but they are also judged on moral standards.
The evaluation of teachers in Illinois is very important because it is a method that helps the state make sure that the teachers are still qualified and have the correct tools and knowledge to be an educator of students. New, as well as experienced veteran teachers, should both be evaluated so that any flaws in the teaching system located in the school is resolved immediately. These evaluations also help keep the teachers that an element of their teaching is as effective as it is supposed to be in the classroom. This can be due to the teacher or students and the evaluations of the teachers identify this aspect. The report from Teacher Magazine called "Six Steps for Upgrading Teacher Evaluation Systems" lists six standards that are based upon evaluations of teachers. The article expresses that evaluations should clearly identify what is expected of the teacher, give regular feedback on progress, and should be annual and fair (Heitin 1). All of these qualities associated with evaluations are understandable and support the hiring as well as advancing veteran teachers in approaches to teaching and technology. Thus, evaluations supports meritocracy in the sense that each teacher has a fair and equal beginning, and their own efforts based on the results they receive will make them succeed or fail.
The salaries and tenure of educators can be based on the evaluations of their skills or classrooms and how well they did. According to Phi Delta Kappan, teachers are paid in single-salary schedules, which means, "teachers are paid based in their years of experience and their level of education" (Bushaw 14). This is a good method because it establishes equal pay among grade levels and male and female teachers, but the success of students should also play a role. It is said that teachers should get raises if they were to teach at a school that is said to "need improving" (Bushaw 15). The text Educational Psychology claims that some "teacher who meet the standards for national teacher certification earn bonus pay" (Woolfolk 528). This also ties into the teacher evaluations and determining if they indeed reach the standards of teaching certification. Evaluations of teachers also help them when going up for tenure. The success rate of the teacher and how they impact a student's academic achievements determine whether or not the educator will receive tenure at the school he or she is teaching at. Many years ago, the book Educational Vouchers: Concepts and Controversies stated, a teacher's salary is too "uniform and rigid". It says that salary schedules are determined far more seniority and degrees than by merit. Now, salaries actually do have something to do with teacher performance and many states are pushing to make the effectiveness of an educator the primary reason of the amount of money one makes. So, the evaluations of teacher in Illinois as well as other states coincide with the salaries and tenure of teachers and as well they should. The performance of a teacher is very important and if one is doing well, there should be an award.
In conclusion, education is a key issue that many State government authority figures of Illinois have made clear and have proposed higher standards for the training, hiring, and evaluations of teachers in order to improve the quality of education for students as well as the environment and conditions for the educators themselves. Illinois has many requirements now as opposed to the requirements in the past that aspiring teachers must meet and therefore the instructors are seen as highly competent in the area they teach in. The hiring of Illinois teachers is rigorous but also ensures that the state of Illinois has the best teachers possible. The evaluations make the teachers aware of the effectiveness of their teaching methods, which can also affect salary and tenure. Education is a very important and the State of Illinois recognizes this. Through the government and its involvement with training, hiring, and evaluations of educators, Illinois represents a state with a growing, improving education system.
Works Cited
Bushaw, William J., and Shane J. Lopez. "A Time for Change." Phi Delta Kappan 91.9 (2010): 9-26. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 5 Oct. 2010.
"Common Core State Standards." Illinois State Board of Education Home Page.
Durbin, Richard J. "Education." U.S. Senator Richard J. Durbin. Web.
Friedman, Milton. "The Role of Government." Educational Vouchers: Concepts and Controversies. Ed. George R. LaNoue. New York [u.a.: Teachers College, 1972. 16-17. Print.
Goodlad, John I. "Chapter Two: Reasonable Expectations." Teachers for Our Nation's Schools. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1990. 43-68.
Heitin, Liana. "Education Week: Login." Education Week American Education News Site of Record. Teacher Magazine.
Herrmann, Andrew. "Illinois Graduation Rate 77% State Ranks 15th; 31% Drop out Nationally - Chicago Sun-Times | HighBeam Research - FREE Trial." Research - Articles - Journals | Find Research Fast at HighBeam Research.
Illinois Certification Testing System (ICTS) Home Page.
"Illinois Race to the Top." Illinois State Board of Education Home Page. Web. 05 Oct. 2010.
"Teacher Salaries by State." Employment Spot. Web.
Woolfolk, Anita. "Chapter Fourteen: Evaluation, Measurement, and Assessment." Educational Psychology. Ninth ed. Boston: Pearson/A and B, 2003. 505-30. Print.
"Worst Public Schools in the USA - Neighborhood Scout." Neighborhood Scout. Web.
The state of Illinois's training programs are very qualified for preparing future teachers for the school systems. According to Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, "...high-quality teachers are the single most important factor in securing a good education" (Durbin 1). The loss of quality education is very difficult to gain back once a student has fallen behind because a teacher is not qualified for the subject he or she is teaching. Senator Durbin also states, "... we need to focus on recruiting and retaining strong teachers, especially in high-need schools and critical subject areas" (Durbin 1). This shows that Illinois elected officials, especially Senator Richard Durbin, are very concerned with the education of our state as well as how it is seen when compared to other states in America.
Training of prospective teachers is regarded as a very important procedure filled with specific curriculum and required tests that are authorized by state as well as federal governments. Illinois has a testing system called the Illinois Certification Testing System or ICTS. These series of exams test students' knowledge during their journey of becoming a teacher. It includes the basic skills test, which determines if a student is qualified to enter a college level educations program and also has other tests that a soon-to-be teacher must pass in order to gain a teaching certificate (Illinois Certification Testing System (ICTS) Home Page 1). This testing system is fairly new and did not exist twenty years ago. This is one of the many ways Illinois is improving the eminence of the training method of teachers.
The training methods of veteran teachers have also improved and therefore give the students greater opportunities in the future. Veteran teachers are also re-trained in seminars usually held in the summer time that give teachers information on technology advances as well as new teaching methods that they can use to better inform their students. Teachers that want to get a refreshment on their education and methods of teaching as well as an increase in pay can also get a higher degree in their field of expertise (Bushaw 14). There are many opportunities for teachers to gain more knowledge on how to teach, as well as programs and testing that require the teachers of Illinois to be the absolute best that they can be in order to make sure that Illinois's youth is prepared for the future in every way possible.
The state of Illinois has claimed nineteen of the one hundred spots on the list of the Worst Public Schools in the United States ("Worst Public Schools in the USA - Neighborhood Scout 1). The state government has been trying to improve this by the training, hiring and evaluating of teachers as well as using different programs to jump start Illinois's education program. The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has adopted "new, more rigorous learning standards" so that students will be better equipped for college and working. These standards, called Common Core State Standards, are replacing the once established in 1997. Although there are fewer standards, they are set to a higher level and they are more understandable than the previously established goals. These Common Core Standards define the amount of knowledge that a student should gain from their K-12 education. The developers of the new standards specialists within in certain content areas as well as teachers and administrators; they are also asking for feedback on the effectiveness of these standards so that the founders can make sure they are realistic and efficient ("Common Core Standards" 1).
The program called Race to the Top was developed as a competition between states to lead in four areas: "Improving the use of standards and assessments, increasing the use of data, increasing the effectiveness of teachers, and improving struggling schools". If Illinois successfully improves these aspects of its education programs, it will benefit Illinois as a state as well as teachers and administrators because four hundred million dollars will be given to the state government. This money will be used for technology in schools, improvements of facilities, and many other beneficial causes ("Illinois Race to the Top" 1). The Race to the Top Program and the ISBE Standards are only two of the many strategies Illinois is using to progress the education level. It is true, at certain times Illinois and the public schools have been seen to be of low-quality, but officials of the State Government and the Illinois State Board of Education are obviously working hard towards improving the image of education in Illinois not only through the teachers themselves, but also the programs that the teachers use and enforce in the classroom.
The hiring of teachers in the Illinois education system has certain standards, and careful decisions so that the state has a great schooling program. Standards are held by the government as well as by citizens of the state to how the school should be educating the future of our country. According to the book Teachers for Our Nation's Schools, educator must possess some of the reasonable expectations listed in the second chapter. The book states that as a nation, "The answer is not to lower our education expectations, however, but to state them clearly" (Goodlad 43). This supports the new standards because the Common Core Standards are developed clear-cut and defined so that a student's expected success rate would be more easily identifiable. Teachers for Our Nation's Schools also states we need to hire teachers that have moral standards, need to be the best educated citizens in the community, they must be responsible, have a broad knowledge of many subjects, give equal opportunities to learn and they need to have a great drive for education (Goodlad 43-44). Each of these expected criterions of a teacher seem to be very accurate of how teachers would be hired.
Of course, teachers are compelled to receive their degree from a good school, and they have to be well qualified with positive recommendations, but they must also be of superior moral character. As a state, Illinois should also be able to pride themselves on the work ethic as well as knowledge of their students. Teachers can also give these qualities to the children they are teaching. All in all, educators in Illinois are of high quality because they are hired based on many different aspects of their lives such as where they went to college and how well they did when attending the school, but they are also judged on moral standards.
The evaluation of teachers in Illinois is very important because it is a method that helps the state make sure that the teachers are still qualified and have the correct tools and knowledge to be an educator of students. New, as well as experienced veteran teachers, should both be evaluated so that any flaws in the teaching system located in the school is resolved immediately. These evaluations also help keep the teachers that an element of their teaching is as effective as it is supposed to be in the classroom. This can be due to the teacher or students and the evaluations of the teachers identify this aspect. The report from Teacher Magazine called "Six Steps for Upgrading Teacher Evaluation Systems" lists six standards that are based upon evaluations of teachers. The article expresses that evaluations should clearly identify what is expected of the teacher, give regular feedback on progress, and should be annual and fair (Heitin 1). All of these qualities associated with evaluations are understandable and support the hiring as well as advancing veteran teachers in approaches to teaching and technology. Thus, evaluations supports meritocracy in the sense that each teacher has a fair and equal beginning, and their own efforts based on the results they receive will make them succeed or fail.
The salaries and tenure of educators can be based on the evaluations of their skills or classrooms and how well they did. According to Phi Delta Kappan, teachers are paid in single-salary schedules, which means, "teachers are paid based in their years of experience and their level of education" (Bushaw 14). This is a good method because it establishes equal pay among grade levels and male and female teachers, but the success of students should also play a role. It is said that teachers should get raises if they were to teach at a school that is said to "need improving" (Bushaw 15). The text Educational Psychology claims that some "teacher who meet the standards for national teacher certification earn bonus pay" (Woolfolk 528). This also ties into the teacher evaluations and determining if they indeed reach the standards of teaching certification. Evaluations of teachers also help them when going up for tenure. The success rate of the teacher and how they impact a student's academic achievements determine whether or not the educator will receive tenure at the school he or she is teaching at. Many years ago, the book Educational Vouchers: Concepts and Controversies stated, a teacher's salary is too "uniform and rigid". It says that salary schedules are determined far more seniority and degrees than by merit. Now, salaries actually do have something to do with teacher performance and many states are pushing to make the effectiveness of an educator the primary reason of the amount of money one makes. So, the evaluations of teacher in Illinois as well as other states coincide with the salaries and tenure of teachers and as well they should. The performance of a teacher is very important and if one is doing well, there should be an award.
In conclusion, education is a key issue that many State government authority figures of Illinois have made clear and have proposed higher standards for the training, hiring, and evaluations of teachers in order to improve the quality of education for students as well as the environment and conditions for the educators themselves. Illinois has many requirements now as opposed to the requirements in the past that aspiring teachers must meet and therefore the instructors are seen as highly competent in the area they teach in. The hiring of Illinois teachers is rigorous but also ensures that the state of Illinois has the best teachers possible. The evaluations make the teachers aware of the effectiveness of their teaching methods, which can also affect salary and tenure. Education is a very important and the State of Illinois recognizes this. Through the government and its involvement with training, hiring, and evaluations of educators, Illinois represents a state with a growing, improving education system.
Works Cited
Bushaw, William J., and Shane J. Lopez. "A Time for Change." Phi Delta Kappan 91.9 (2010): 9-26. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 5 Oct. 2010.
"Common Core State Standards." Illinois State Board of Education Home Page.
Durbin, Richard J. "Education." U.S. Senator Richard J. Durbin. Web.
Friedman, Milton. "The Role of Government." Educational Vouchers: Concepts and Controversies. Ed. George R. LaNoue. New York [u.a.: Teachers College, 1972. 16-17. Print.
Goodlad, John I. "Chapter Two: Reasonable Expectations." Teachers for Our Nation's Schools. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1990. 43-68.
Heitin, Liana. "Education Week: Login." Education Week American Education News Site of Record. Teacher Magazine.
Herrmann, Andrew. "Illinois Graduation Rate 77% State Ranks 15th; 31% Drop out Nationally - Chicago Sun-Times | HighBeam Research - FREE Trial." Research - Articles - Journals | Find Research Fast at HighBeam Research.
Illinois Certification Testing System (ICTS) Home Page.
"Illinois Race to the Top." Illinois State Board of Education Home Page. Web. 05 Oct. 2010.
"Teacher Salaries by State." Employment Spot. Web.
Woolfolk, Anita. "Chapter Fourteen: Evaluation, Measurement, and Assessment." Educational Psychology. Ninth ed. Boston: Pearson/A and B, 2003. 505-30. Print.
"Worst Public Schools in the USA - Neighborhood Scout." Neighborhood Scout. Web.
