Two persistent problems beset American schools. First, teachers must leave the classroom and become administrators or counselors to earn above the standard teacher salary. Second, colleges of education can’t prepare new teachers nearly as well as an apprenticeship under a veteran teacher who has consistently demonstrated mastery of the craft. Thankfully, K-12 education can rework how it prepares new teachers and rewards quality veteran educators to solve both problems simultaneously. Let’s begin with the second problem. A common complaint among teachers is how far removed the professors in the education programs are from the K-12 classroom. Most haven’t been classroom teachers in at least a decade and have forgotten what that was like. Some have never been a teacher at all. They found that many lofty ideas and great-sounding theories fail and crumble in a room full of energetic children looking to them for clear direction and guidance. Utilizing current classroom teachers would remove that complaint entirely. Nobody knows better about classroom teachers’ challenges and struggles than those who have been in the position for years. As apprentices, aspiring teachers could observe and learn how the veterans handle unruly students, constant interruptions, unhappy parents, broken copy machines, dismissive administrators, and rained-out recess. Gradually, the mentor could hand over tasks and responsibilities over the year to allow the apprentice to apply some of the learned techniques. Another complaint I often hear from teachers is that the classes they took in their education programs needed more useful information. Rather than teaching them about pedagogy or ensuring they had a solid understanding of the content they would be teaching, many of their classes focused on courses like child psychology, social foundations of education, and educational philosophy. While it might be interesting for educators to know about these topics, it is not necessary to become effective teachers. Effective welders needn’t know the finer points of thermodynamics of metallurgy. Knowledge of pedagogy certainly helps, but teaching is an applied science, and practical knowledge about classroom management, for example, is far more urgent in the early years. A teacher preparation model that utilizes experienced teachers who demonstrate a clear understanding of their content and use the prescribed curriculum with efficacy addresses the issue of relevance. Of course, the curriculum will vary, but aspiring teachers can see what it looks like to follow the plan. Observing this may deter them from venturing onto the internet to find more “fun,” “engaging,” and less effective curricula once they have their own classrooms. Those suggestions address issues related to teacher prep programs, but they simultaneously address the issue of great teachers who deserve recognition and compensation for their skill and dedication to the profession. School leaders should strive to keep effective teachers in the classroom where they will have the most significant impact on students. States should stop paying college professors who haven’t been in the classroom for years six-figure salaries to float lofty ideas of utopian classrooms to bright-eyed students. Instead, they should jettison requirements for prospective teachers to get state-certified through ineffective colleges of education in favor of teacher apprenticeships. At the same time, states and school districts should move toward merit-based pay systems rather than paying teachers based on the length of time they’ve served in the classroom, rewarding excellent teachers who demonstrably improve student learning. In most states, there is currently a student-teacher model similar to this. However, it is generally not an entire year, requires rising teachers to delve into child psychology, and doesn’t adequately screen or compensate the participating veteran teachers. There is a new program that was introduced in recent years that has promise, however. The Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAP) allow aspiring teachers to glean wisdom from and work alongside experienced educators before taking on the responsibility of a classroom of their own. “Since the K-12 Teacher Registered Apprentice occupation was first approved in 2021, 30 U.S. states or territories have registered at least one K-12 Teacher RAP,” according to an apprenticeship guidebook, and these options have begun to show their success. K-12 education has faced unprecedented scrutiny in recent years, and problems that remained dormant for decades suddenly became undeniable. Teacher preparation programs are the root of so many of those problems. Meanwhile, great teachers who should be applauded for their dedication to children and commitment to education for decades are leaving in droves because of a lack of autonomy or clear pathways for professional growth.  It is time to stop complaining about the issue and start looking at practical solutions. The post In With Teacher Apprenticeships, out With Colleges of Education appeared first on The Daily Signal.

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On Thursday, the nervous sweat had yet to wear off on ABC’s Good Morning America from their weak knees and clammy palms from their Tuesday and Wednesday shows recapping the Democratic National Convention.  This time, the played the role of Russia Today anchors promoting their party’s vice presidential candidate Tim Walz as a scandal-free “[s]ocial studies teacher, retired National Guard member, high school football coach” who “electrified this arena...with a pep talk for the nation” calling on those listening “to give it their all” to save the country from the GOP. I'm once again here to showcase how much of an ebullient Biden-Harris cheerleader ABC's Mary Bruce is. She's definitely hot and bothered by everything #DNC. pic.twitter.com/G1MnM9ydDO — Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) August 22, 2024 Co-host and former Clinton official George Stephanopoulos got things going in the opening tease: “Governor Walz takes the stage at the Democratic Convention...Social studies teacher, retired National Guard member, high school football coach...with his wife and children cheering him on. Former President Bill Clinton and TV legend Oprah Winfrey takes the stage, too.” Chief pom-pom waver Mary Bruce was bursting at the seams in excitement in her lead-off report, insisting the man who’s lied about his children being conceived using IVF and his military service to name a few came with “straight talk” to give “a heartfelt pitch”: Well, it is safe to say that, just a few weeks ago, many Americans had never heard of Tim Walz. But last night, he electrified this arena, the nation hearing his personal story and meeting his adoring and very proud family. Walz shared plenty of straight talk and made a heartfelt pitch for the ticket. The former high school football coach leaving it all on the field. Overnight, Coach Walz with a pep talk for the nation. In between soundbites of Walz’s speech, Bruce beamed that Walz’s “family [was] bursting with pride” as he “shar[ed] his story growing up in a small town in Nebraska.” “The 24-year veteran and six term congressman, an avid hunter who’s fought for gun reforms, a former social studies teacher who passed free meals for all school children...But Walz also taking on the traditional running mate role of attack dog,” Bruce swooned. Before shifting to celebrities, Bruce said “[t]he former high school football coach urging supporters to give it their all.” Bruce saved some energy for cheering the presence of “star power”, “the queen of television” in Oprah Winfrey and Bill Clinton, “[t]he man from Hope now saying the nation needs a president of joy.” Speaking of the “classic” Winfrey, Bruce said “[h]er first speech at a political convention” consisted of “urging Americans to vote their values” and “bringing the crowd their feet with her signature crescendo.” Bruce concluded with a preview of the kisses she’ll apply to Harris on Thursday night and Friday morning: She is, of course, going to share her personal story, as the daughter of immigrant, arguing that she understands the middle class experience. She’ll talk about her work as a prosecutor, as she now prosecutes the case against Trump, and she will most certainly share her vision of hope and optimism for the future[.] Stephanopoulos and devoutly anti-Trump correspondent Rachel Scott gave a few minutes to the Trump campaign, but instead of letting Trump speak for himself, they painted a wildly partisan picture of Trump doing little at his rallies except engaging in “personal attacks” and “anti-Semitic” smears with policy being all but nonexistent (click “expand”): STEPHANOPOULOS: Trump out on the trail yesterday, Rachel. His team keeps telling him to talk about policy, but he just can’t help himself. SCOTT: Yeah. The former President, George, is making it clear he is not going to stay away from those personal attacks. And it’s also clear he’s been watching what has been playing out here at the Democratic National Convention. He went on to attack someone who’s not even on the Democratic ticket, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, calling him a highly overrated Jewish governor, claiming that the speech that he gave was poorly delivered. Now, Shapiro, of course, was on the short list to be Vice President Kamala Harris’s running mate. He did deliver a blistering speech, going after the Republican ticket, accusing them of trying to take away freedoms of Americans. But that reaction from Donald Trump, part of a larger pattern. The former President has attacked Jewish people who are supporting Vice President Kamala Harris in comments that have been labeled as anti-Semitic. Now, the former President has been out on the campaign trail doing a blitz across the battleground states, really trying to counter the Democratic National Convention. He did deliver his first outdoor rally speech since that attempted assassination on his life. There were added security provisions, bulletproof glass surrounding him. Snipers were in position. But, yes, George, despite what his advisers are telling him, despite what Republican allies are telling him to stay focused on the policy, he said he’s not going to stay away from those personal insults[.] And for good measure, the tools at ABC completely dismissed almost any chance Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s departure from the 2024 field would matter. In fact, it was floated this would be a boost for Harris, not Trump (click “expand”): STEPHANOPOULOS: Rick, RFK Jr.’s poll numbers had been dropping. Hard to gauge what impact his getting out, maybe endorsing Donald Trump will have. KLEIN: Yeah, George. I mean, the battleground states look a lot different than they did a few short weeks ago when Donald Trump was leading everywhere. Right now Kamala Harris is up in six of the seven big battleground states including the Midwestern states, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania. Tim Walz, of course, from Wisconsin [sic]. And we are right now in the state of Illinois. But to your point about the national polling, when Robert F. Kennedy was added to the latest poll, he was polling at just five percent. As Jon Karl said, he was well into the double digits earlier in the summer. Harris with a three-point lead with the three of them in the race, but when you take him out of the mix, it is not at all clear where his voters necessarily go. When you took that away as an option in our latest poll, you see the largest share of voters actually then went to Kamala Harris, but the biggest number on this screen is 34 percent that say it was someone else if Kennedy was out of the mix. Some of them are holding out for Kennedy. So, if Kennedy is now telling supporters to vote for Donald Trump, you might see the lion’s share of them go to Donald Trump. Kennedy has had better popularity and favorability among Republicans than among Democrats. And a lot of his views are closely aligned with Donald Trump. The bottom line is, George, we may see a tightening race get even tighter as a result of this. To see the relevant ABC transcript form August 22, click here.

At least seven times today in the show's opening minutes, CNN This Morning ran the clip from last night's DNC of Tim Walz's son Gus getting emotional and pointing to his father as he spoke: "That's my dad!"  The panel collectively teared up, with Mark McKinnon saying "Do you have any tissues?" McKinnon also swooned over Walz's speech, declaring, "I'm telling you, in all my experience, I have never seen anything as authentic as that speech." Biden's former comms director Kate Bedingfield chimed in, saying "if you aren't moved by that, I don't know. You got a heart of stone." Bedingfield also referred to Gus's emotion for his father as "winning." Whether she meant that in political terms, or in the sense of winning as a family matter, wasn't clear. The emotion for his father displayed by Gus Walz, who as Hunt mentioned has dealt with disabilities and autism, was clearly moving. But that CNN was trying to extract from it the maximum political benefit for Harris-Walz was equally obvious.  Note: Hunt began by noting that Walz introduced himself in part by discussing "his family's experience with infertility." But in doing so, Hunt failed to point out that Walz had falsely suggested that he and his wife employed IVF, something that some Republicans would like to restrict.  As the AP has reported [emphasis added]: "Earlier this month, Walz criticized Ohio Sen. JD Vance, the Republican candidate for vice president, by saying, 'If it was up to him, I wouldn’t have a family because of IVF.' In fact, the Walz family did not use IVF." Here's the transcript. CNN This Morning 8/22/24 6:03 am EDT KASIE HUNT: Walz introduced to himself last night to Americans on his biggest stage yet, with personal stories, including his family's experience with infertility. TIM WALZ: It took Gwen and I years, but we had access to fertility treatments. And when our daughter was born, we named her Hope. Hope, Gus, and Gwen, you are my entire world. And I love you. HUNT: I have to say, I mean, what an emotional moment right there. That was Walz, his son Gus crying, shouting, "That's my dad!" His sister Hope was there, also crying. And those signs in the crowd, they read, Coach Walz.   . . .  I have to say, that moment with Tim Walz's son. Can we put Gus back up? I mean, it, it, I feel like it really stole the show last night, and it said so many things about, about Tim Walz, about his family in this moment. This, for those who don't know, he struggles with disabilities, has been, struggled with nonverbal autism. It just, really, really moving moment.  MARK MCKINNON: I've teared up every time I've seen the clip. I tear up thinking about the clip. I mean it's, I mean, talking right now about it I'm tearing up. KATE BENINGFIELD: I tear up watching it. It's fair. MCKINNON: It's so powerful, and it's so relatable. I mean, how many people in America have challenges of some nature? You know, almost all of them do. And it's just so relatable, and it's so authentic.  BENINGFIELD: Yes. I mean, like, if you aren't moved by that, I don't know. You got a heart of stone. I mean, politics aside, like that's, that's it, man, like family in that way, is just unbelievable.  But it is also, it is about authenticity, and I think we saw that from Walz all night last night. I mean, I think we saw that in the speech he delivered. We saw it in the setup, the students talking about him. And authenticity is, is one of the most important pieces of successful political indication. And I just think, I just say quickly though, the frustration with Washington, the disaffection, the disillusionment, some of it is because people feel like the system doesn't work for them. And some of it is because they feel like so many people in Washington are phony. And I think that what Walz can, was able, what we saw him do last night and what he's going to, I think, continue to on this campaign is just connect with people in a real way. MCKINNON: When I got the job as doing the media for Bush in 2000, I was first excited and then petrified because it was such a responsibility. So I went back and studied media for presidential campaigns, going back to the advent of television. And different things happened over time. The evolutions of things that work and didn't. And it just got to a point where people were so cynical of anything political, because they know there's a First Amendment, you can say what ever you want, it doesn't have to be true. Politicians are paying for it. So the coin of the realm, really, to break through that, is authenticity, right? And I'm telling you, in all my experience, I have never seen anything as authentic as that speech last night. HUNT: Wow! That is a resounding endorsement.  BAKARI SELLERS: That's also why he got chosen. I mean, I think, to go back to, one of the --  MCKINNON: Yes! And what an affirmation of that choice. I mean, she had to kind of go out on a limb on that, right?  SELLERS: Man, you're excited about that. Waltz got him excited. But no, I think that Kamala Harris's first choice was to choose her Vice President of the United States, h first consequential choice. And I think the people are seeing, I told everybody frankly, Governor Walz was my fourth choice. I liked Mark Kelly and Josh Shapiro and Pete Buttigieg, all before I liked Tim Walz. It was an abundance of riches.  But I think you see why he was chosen. It's that authenticity. "That's my dad" is probably going to be, like, the number one line that sticks out from all the speeches, and it wasn't a speech. Like, Gus is an American hero right now. HUNT: I mean, don't you just hope that your kid looks at you -- BENINGFIELD: Yes. Yeah. I mean -- HUNTT: -- some day? BENINGFIELD: I think that every parent, every child. I mean, yes, that is the goal, man. That is winning. Like, that is, that is I mean -- MCKINNON: Do you have any tissues?  HUNT: I know! BENINGFIELD: Everything else aside, that is winning. MCKINNON: And he has never used a teleprompter before. That's crazy! HUNT: I'm starting to not believe that. SELLERS: He said the two things I don't do well, when he was going through this process, he said, I've never use a teleprompter before, somebody is going to have to teach me, and I don't debate well. And so this winds up that -- MCKINNON: Oh: lower that bar!

WNBA star Angel Reese told a reporter she isn't educated enough in presidential politics to give a comment on Kamala Harris. With the Democratic National Convention taking place in Chicago, it seemed inevitable that the Chicago Sky player would be asked a political question surrounding the event.It was reporter Brandon Robinson who caught up with the basketball star at a media availability period where he began asking Reese a political question but was interrupted by the athlete who wanted to politely introduce herself.'I'm not that educated right now, but [I] just continue to learn.'"Hi, how are you? Nice to meet you," she interjected. "Vice President Kamala Harris —" Robinson began."Oh wow," Reese said with a smirk."[Kamala Harris] is a woman, and she's doing her thing, running for president," the reporter continued. "Have you had a chance to watch her? What are your thoughts on her running for political office?"Reese then gave a refreshing take about not feeling educated enough to comment on the race."I haven't been able to tap a lot into the political election ... so I'm not that educated right now, but [I] just continue to learn," Reese said."Everybody go out there and vote. I commend that, and I just tell a lot of people to go out there and vote because we need it for this election," she added.Robinson did not include his female-forward question in the transcript of his interview but rather positioned Reese's answer as emphasizing the importance of the election due to the possibility of Harris becoming the first female president.Reese was also asked for her thoughts on her home city of Baltimore; she took the opportunity to praise Mayor Brandon Scott, a Democrat who ran on cutting the Baltimore police budget but actually increased it in his first term."I love being from Baltimore. Brandon has done a great job in being able to inspire me and just being able to watch him do what he’s done for the city. I like being able to go back with my foundation. I give a scholarship every year to St. Francis, so I'm just continuing to do that and I’m trying to do more."The Angel Reese Foundation has a mission statement of "fostering equity for girls and underrepresented groups through innovative and impactful initiatives."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!