Those who can't do, teach

Is it true that those who can’t do, teach? If so, what does that mean for students being taught by teachers who don’t have a strong understanding of and enthusiasm about the content area they are teaching? Is it an even more pronounced problem in the areas of math and science?

The University of Cincinnati has two new grants that are researching ways to lure more highly qualified young adults to teaching, specifically elementary and middle-school math and science teachers. The goal is to train more teachers to provide challenging and engaging instruction in math, science, technology and engineering. Better trained teachers will do a better job of teaching these concepts to their students. Better educated students will be more likely to consider careers in these areas. More highly qualified scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians coming out of America’s schools and universities will lead to a cycle of teaching and learning that will reverse a decades-old trend of declining STEM growth in our country.

Cincinnati Public Schools is making math and science instruction a priority by converting two existing schools into schools that emphasize math and science. The GE College Bound math- and science- grant is aggressively pushing math and science instruction along with professional development for teachers.

As more and better teachers fill our math and science classrooms, maybe the saying will go something like “Those who can do, teach.”

Diane