Last year,while I was a member of the Academic P1— anning Committee, a propos— 31 was brought forth by the Education Department,which would require Education Students to have a minimum average of 60% in their major in order to graduate.
Two Education Department faculty members were at the meeting to present the proposal. The two were asked by a member of the Academic Planning Committee,what the present poliCy of the Education Department was toward graduating students, who they felt would be poor teachers.
The response'from the Education professors was that if the school they planned to teach at asked for a recommendation,they would "suggest. that they teach at a primary,and not a secondary level."
Richard Willis
On Wednesday, Jan. 29, 1975, a meeting was called for all students in the Education Depart- ment. The main topic of discussion was dissat— isfactidn with_ the now existing curriculum. These disSatisfactions were mainly directed to- wards the one year B.Ed program. The meeting also discussed ways in— which the curriculum could be improved to better meet the needs of the students enrolled in the Education Program.
The below criticisms and proposals reflect the views of the 35 students present at the meeting' Wednesday.afternoon.
They are as follows:
1. More student concern for educational affairs. This was directed towards the apathy relevant in the attitudes of students HOW in the B.Ed. program and the small turn—out 0f the meeting.
2. Have a screening Process established where— by students wishing to enter the B.Ed program would be ‘ interviewed. This would help to eliminate those students who enter the Education Program for reasons other than to be- C9me stimulating & effec— the teachers. Special reference made to one year B.Ed. program.
.3- Elect two represent— ives from the one year prQSram - one from the seCQndary route & bne fr°m3Fhen.Lementary route .»»3mss,.mssxfla~r
. 5‘
who would meet & discuss with~faculty such topics. as student grievances, & curriculum development & what criteria should be used,in evaluation of practice teaching success.
4. Students, faculty, ‘principals & co-operating teachers should meet t9— gether in the‘formqof a‘ social evening before any student goes out practice
teaching. '
5.' It was felt that students need a longer time to get in contact with principals & co—
_ operating teachers abOut
practice teaching.
‘6. Co-operating teachers should have a better idea what their role is.& the
role of the practice tea-
'chers they will be working
with.
7. Supervisors should \be familar with the sch—
The Cadre, Tuesday, February 4,m1§75, Page 11 3
Dissatisfied education students e suggest
from Unit Board Office.
11. ProfeSSors should be notified when hiring what subjects they will be-teaching.
12. Practtéerteaching should be done\in a block at the last of each sem- ester.
13. A Bibliography should be passed out in each course to help stu- dents locate books ben- ifical in their teaching careers.
14. Have some night classe scheduled in the day as we] In this way students would have the choice of taking
a night course or day course and more time
cOuld be spent in prepar— ation of lesson plans and keeping logs up to date.
15. Why has Sociology of Education not been offered in the last several years?
ools they will be super— ‘ vising in, to the extent of knowing what system
I the school operates under. ie. .Supervisors should know if the school is open area, if there are formal lessons, or if there is individual instruction.
8. Students should be! »given the choice of having their evaluation done by form or be open ended.
,9. Have office hours organized and established so students can easily
get in contact with pro— fessors. Have professors show up for their appoint— ements.
10. More resource people should be brought in, i.e. Jteachers, principals, gui- 'dance counselors and people
At the meeting Wed., it was decided that stud- ents meet with the Educ- ation faculty to discuss the proposals made that day. Friday, January 31, the second meeting was called, with approximately 20 students in attendance.
At this meeting each of the 15 proposals were discussed and suggestions are being considered by the Education Department.
It was suggested by students and faculty that a screening process be established whereby only those candidates with an average of 60—65% be ad-
mitted_to the one year program. It was felt
that the enrollment should be limited and that each student wishing to enter
/
improvements
'the one year B.Ed. program ‘be interviewed by a com- mittee. The committee should be composed of representitives from the faculty, P.E.I.T.F. and from the student body.
It was decided to have two representives one from the secondary route, the other from the elementary route. These
'representives would attend
facultyesmeetings & have voting power. We were
also told that the meetings are Open and anyone wish— ing to attend may do‘so.
Representives will . be voted in the first Mbnday after March Break.
T We were also given the option of having our practice teaching evalua— tion done by form or be open ended. (co—operating teachers writing down. comments using the form as a guide.)
We thought that pra- ctice teaching would be better at the end of each semester. ,This was dis— cussed and we found out that some schools do not like having student teac—
hers prior to examinations.
It was felt that valuable experience would be lost
if practice teaching was
done at the last because. ' a follow-up would be
impossible.
Office hours will I be posted on each of the professors doors.
A suggestion was made to have two of the four night classes in the day. The next year alter— nating these around so that they ‘wbuld be held at night and the other two courses would be in the day instead. In this way some of the work load would be aléViated from the students when practice teaching. Also those teachers trying to take ’ make—up courses could do so;
The above are just
'a few examples of the
issues discussed. There were many others. Hows eyer listing these would be tedious and tiring.
_So Education Students. if you want to hear ALL that is being discussed at a meeting - ATTEND THAT MEETING! The prof-
'eSsors in the Education
Department are more than interested in hearing what you have to say. REMEMBER: "A turtle doesn't get any where Unless-he sticks
his neck out!" quleengarren