Chapter 2: The Teaching

Profession

Presented by Soeung Sopha

Is Teaching a Profession?

What is “Profession”?

Is teaching a profession?

Why?

Characteristics of a Full Profession

Teaching seems to lag of Profession

Control over licensing standard and/or entry requirement

High prestige and economic standing

A- A Define Body of Knowledge

Members of the profession establish their expertise by mastering this defined body of knowledge, and they protect public from untrained amateur by denying membership to those who have not mastered it.

Teacher preparation has 3 components: The

National Council

for Accredita

tion of Teacher Educatio

n

Accreditation Council of Cambodia

B- Controlling Requirement for Entry and Licensing

Variation in certificate:Usually, most profession is uniformPreparation and condition for entering teacher are

required to pass minimum tests in reading, writing and math.

Standard and assessmentTeachers are recruited based on the rank of

experienced college graduates.

C- Autonomy in Deciding about Spheres of Work

Every member is assumed to be qualified to make professional judgments on the nature of work involved.

Control by laypeople is considered the natural enemy the a profession; it limits a professional power and open the door to outside interference.

Teachers have less input in curriculum decision. They become vulnerable when seeking to introduce new textbooks or discuss topic.

School hire outside experts.

D- High Prestige and Economic Standing

Occupational prestige

Salary trend:

Trends Toward Professional

Although teaching probably should not be considered as fully professionalized occupation, certain trends have helped it moved in that direction. Like, Collective Bargaining – enhance teacher’s capacity to make decision about their classroom work.

Collective Bargaining

Is it a professional?Sometimes it is not like in law or medicine.

It has increasingly focused on concerned other than the fundamental salary.

Mediated Entry: Lack of assistance for new teachers

Staff Development: Keep up to date (self-development) Rising staff development

School-Based Management

Decision making at the school level

Teacher as an expert

School-based management

Teacher Organization

Benefit of the membership

Specialized professional organizationSubject-related associationStudent-related organization

Parent-Teacher Association (PTA)

Discussion

Is teaching profession? What changes might make teaching a true full profession?

Are staff development program essential? Why?