Teacher 205075 224755298 2008-07-10T08:00:44Z 210.24.193.10 /* Teaching around the world */ {{otheruses}} {{three other uses||[[university]] teachers|professor|'extra-help teachers'|tutor|Parapros|Paraprofessional educator}} {{Refimprove|date=July 2007}} {{POV|date=January 2008}} {{cleanup|date=June 2008}} [[Image:Teacher writing on a Blackboard.jpg|thumb|251px|A teacher writing on a [[chalkboard|blackboard]].]] In [[education]], a '''teacher''' is one who helps [[student]]s or pupils, often in a school, as well as in a [[family]], [[religion|religious]] or [[community]] setting. A teacher is an acknowledged guide or helper in processes of learning. A teacher's role may vary between cultures. [[Academic]] subjects are emphasized in many societies, but a teacher's duties may include instruction in [[craftsmanship]] or [[vocational training]], [[spirituality]], [[civics]], community roles, or life skills. In modern schools and most [[wiktionary:Contemporary|contemporary]] [[Western world|occidental]] societies, where scientific [[pedagogy]] is practiced, the teacher is defined as a specialized profession on the same level as many other professions. == Pedagogy and teaching == [[Image:Teacher in Laos.jpg|250px|A primary school teacher in northern [[Laos]]|thumb]] In [[education]], teachers facilitate [[student]] learning, often in a [[school]] or academy or perhaps in another environment such as [[Outdoor education|outdoors]]. A teacher who teaches on an individual basis may be described as a [[tutor]]. The objective is typically accomplished through either an [[Informal learning|informal]] or formal approach to learning, including a course of study and [[lesson plan]] that teaches [[skill]]s, [[knowledge]] and/or [[thinking]] skills. Different ways to teach are often referred to as [[pedagogy]]. When deciding what teaching method to use teachers consider students' background knowledge, environment, and their learning goals as well as standardized curricula as determined by the relevant authority. The teacher should also be able to deal with students with different abilities and should also be able to deal with learning disabilities. Many times, teachers assist in learning outside of the classroom by accompanying students on field trips. The increasing use of technology, specifically the rise of the internet over the past decade has begun to shape the way teachers approach their role in the classroom. The [[goal|objective]] is typically a course of study, [[lesson plan]], or a practical skill, including [[learning]] and [[thinking]] skills. The different ways to teach are often referred to as the teacher's [[pedagogy]]. When deciding what [[teaching method]] to use, a teacher will need to consider students' background knowledge, environment, and their learning objectives. A teacher may follow standardized [[Curriculum|curricula]] as determined by the relevant authority. The teacher may interact with students of different ages, from infants to adults, students with different abilities and students with learning disabilities. === Secondary School Teachers === Perhaps the most significant difference between primary and secondary teaching in the UK is the relationship between teachers and children. In primary schools each class has a teacher who stays with them for most of the week and will teach them the whole curriculum. In secondary schools they will be taught by different subject specialists each session during the week and may have 10 or more different teachers. The relationship between children and their teachers tends to be closer in the primary school where they act as form tutor, specialist teacher and surrogate parent during the course of the day. This is true throughout most of the United States as well. However, alternative approaches for primary education do exist. One of these, sometimes referred to as a "platoon" system, involves placing a group of students together in one class that moves from one specialist to another for every subject. The advantage here is that students learn from teachers who specialize in one subject and who tend to be more knowledgeable in that one area than a teacher who teaches many subjects. Students still derive a strong sense of security by staying with the same group of peers for all classes. == Professional educators == {{Citations missing|date=January 2008}} Teaching may be carried out informally, within the family (see [[Homeschooling]]) or the wider community. Formal teaching may be carried out by paid [[professional]]s. Such professionals enjoy a status in some societies on a par with [[physician]]s, [[lawyer]]s, [[engineer]]s, and accountants ([[Chartered accountancy|Chartered]] or [[Certified Public Accountant|CPA]]). A teacher's professional duties may extend beyond formal teaching. Outside of the classroom teachers may accompany students on [[field trip]]s, supervise [[study hall]]s, help with the organization of school functions, and serve as supervisors for [[extracurricular activities]]. In some education systems, teachers may have responsibility for student [[discipline]]. Around the world teachers are often required to obtain [[College of Education|specialized education]] and [[Certified teacher|professional licensure]]. The teaching profession is regarded for having a body of specialised professional knowledge, [[Ethical code|codes of ethics]] and internal monitoring. There are a variety of bodies designed to instill, preserve and update the knowledge and professional standing of teachers. Around the world many governments operate teacher's colleges, which are generally established to serve and protect the public interest through [[certify]]ing, governing and enforcing the standards of practice for the teaching profession. The functions of the teacher's colleges may include setting out clear standards of practice, providing for the ongoing education of teachers, investigating complaints involving members, conducting hearings into [[allegation]]s of professional misconduct and taking appropriate disciplinary action and [[accredit]]ing teacher education programs. In many situations teachers in [[Public school|publicly funded schools]] must be members in good standing with the college, and [[private school]]s may also require their teachers to be college members. In other areas these roles may belong to the State [[Board of Education]], the [[Superintendent of Public Instruction]], the [[State Education Agency]] or other governmental bodies. In still other areas [[Teaching Union]]s may be responsible for some or all of these duties. == Teaching around the world == There are many similarities and differences among teachers around the world. In almost all countries teachers are educated in a [[university]] or [[college]]. Governments may require [[Certified teacher|certification]] by a recognized body before they can teach in a [[school]]. === England and Wales === {{main|Education in the United Kingdom}} [[Nursery school|Nursery]], Primary and Secondary School teachers ranged from [[GBP|£]]20,133 to £41,004 in September 2007, although some salaries can go much higher depending on experience.<ref>http://www.tda.gov.uk/upload/resources/pdf/t/teacher_salaries.pdf 'Teacher Salaries from September 2007' TDA (Training and Development Agency) </ref> Preschool teachers may earn £20,980 annually.{{Fact|date=January 2008}} State school teachers must have at least a [[bachelor's degree]], complete an approved teacher education program, and be licensed. Many counties offer alternative licensing programs to attract people into teaching, especially for hard-to-fill positions. Excellent job opportunities are expected as [[retirement]]s, especially among secondary school teachers, outweigh slowing enrollment growth; opportunities will vary by geographic area and subject taught.{{Fact|date=January 2008}} === France === {{main|Education in France}} In [[France]], teachers, or ''professors'', are mainly civil servants, recruited by [[competitive examination]]. === Republic of Ireland === {{Main|Education in Ireland}} Salaries for primary teachers in the [[Republic of Ireland]] depend mainly on seniority (i.e. holding the position of [[principal (school)|principal]], deputy principal or [[assistant principal]]), experience and qualifications. Extra pay is also given for teaching through the [[Irish language]], in a [[Gaeltacht]] area or on an [[islands of Ireland|island]]. The basic pay for a starting teacher is [[EUR|€]]31,028 [[Per annum|p.a.]], rising incrementally to €57,403 for a teacher with 25 years' service. A principal of a large school with many years' experience and several qualifications ([[M.A. (postgraduate)|M.A.]], [[H.Dip.]], etc.) could earn over €90,000.<ref>[http://www.education.ie/home/home.jsp?maincat=&pcategory=10815&ecategory=31472&sectionpage=&subject=31872&language=EN&link=&page= Department of Education & Science - - Education Personnel<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> === Scotland === {{Main|Education in Scotland}} In [[Scotland]], anyone wishing to teach must be registered with the [[General Teaching Council for Scotland]] (GTCS). Teaching in Scotland is an all graduate profession and the normal route for graduates wishing to teach is to complete a programme of Initial Teacher Education (ITE) at one of the seven Scottish Universities who offer these courses. Once successfully completed, 'Provisional Registration' is given by the GTCS which is raised to 'Full Registration' status after a year if there is sufficient evidence to show that the 'Standard for Full Registration' has been met.<ref>[http://www.gtcs.org.uk/Becoming_a_Teacher/Trainingtobeateacher/Trainingtobeateacher.asp Training to be a teacher] GTC Scotland</ref> For salary year beginning April 2008, unpromoted teachers in [[Scotland]] earned from £20,427 for a Probationer, up to £32,583 after 6 years teaching, but could then go on to earn up to £39,942 as they complete the modules to earn Chartered Teacher Status (requiring at least 6 years at up to two modules per year.) Promotion to [[Principal Teacher]] positions attracts a salary of between £34,566 and £44,616; Depute Head, and [[Head teacher]]s earn from £40,290 to £78,642.<ref>[ http://www.teachinginscotland.com/tis/119.29.32.html] Teach in Scotland</ref> === United States === {{Main|Education in the United States}} {{see|Paraprofessional educator}} In the [[United States]], each [[U.S. state|state]] determines the requirements for getting a license to teach in public schools. The [[Bureau of Labor Statistics]] estimates that there are 1.4 million [[elementary school]] teachers,<ref>[http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes252021.htm Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> 600,000 [[middle school]] teachers,<ref>[http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes252022.htm Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Vocational Education<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and 1 million [[secondary school]] teachers employed in the U.S.<ref>[http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes252031.htm Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Vocational Education<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> US teachers are generally paid on graduated scales, with income depending on experience. Salaries vary greatly depending on state, relative cost of living, and grade taught. The median salary for all primary and secondary teachers was [[USD|$]]46,000 in 2004, with the average entry salary for a teacher with a bachelor's degree being an estimated $32,000. Median salaries for preschool teachers, however, were less than half the national median for secondary teachers, clock in at an estimated $21,000 in 2004.<ref name="US Salaries, 2004">{{cite web|url=http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos069.htm#earnings|title=U.S. Department of Labor: Bureau of Labor Statistics. (July 18, 2007). ''Teachers—Preschool, Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary: Earnings''.|accessdate=2007-10-11}}</ref> For high school teachers, median salaries in 2007 ranged from $35,000 in South Dakota to $71,000 in New York, with a national median of $52,000.<ref name=US Salaries, 2007">{{cite web|url=http://www.bls.gov/spotlight/|title=U.S. Department of Labor: Bureau of Labor Statistics. (August, 2007). ''Spotlight on Statistics: Back to School''.|accessdate=2007-10-11}}</ref> Some contracts may include long-term [[disability insurance]], [[life insurance]], emergency/[[personal leave]] and investment options.<ref>[http://www.nea.org/student-program/tools/makeithappen.html "Make It Happen: A Student's Guide,"] National Education Association. Retrieved 7/5/07.</ref> The [[American Federation of Teachers]]' teacher salary survey for the 2004-05 school year found that the average teacher salary was $47,602.<ref>[http://www.aft.org/salary/index.htm 2005 "Survey & Analysis of Teacher Salary Trends,"] American Federation of Teachers. Retrieved 8/5/07.</ref> == Misconduct == {{Disputed-section|date=February 2008}} Misconduct by teachers, especially [[sexual misconduct]], has been getting increased scrutiny from the media and the courts.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Goorian |first=Brad |year=1999 |month=December |title=Sexual Misconduct by School Employees. |journal=[[ERIC|ERIC Digest]] |issue=134 |pages=p.1 |id=ERIC #: ED436816 |url=http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICDocs/data/ericdocs2sql/content_storage_01/0000019b/80/15/fd/90.pdf |accessdate= 2008-01-17}}</ref> A study by the [[AAUW]] reported that 9.6% of students in the United States claim to have received unwanted sexual attention from an adult associated with education - be they a volunteer, bus driver, teacher, administrator or other adult - sometime during their educational career.<ref name=DOEd>{{cite web |url=http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/misconductreview/report.pdf#p28 |title=Educator Sexual Misconduct: A Synthesis of Existing Literature |accessdate=2008-01-17 |last=Shakeshaft |first=Charol |year=2004 |month=June |format=[[PDF]] |publisher=[[U.S. Department of Education]], Office of the Under Secretary |pages=p. 28}}</ref> A study in England showed a 0.3% prevalence of sexual abuse by any professional, a group that included [[priest]]s, religious leaders, and case workers as well as teachers.<ref>[http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/misconductreview/report.pdf#p28 Educator Sexual Misconduct: A Synthesis of Existing Literature] see page 8 and page 20</ref> It is important to note, however, that the British study referenced above is the only one of its kind and consisted of "a random ... probability sample of 2,869 young people between the ages of 18 and 24 in a computer-assisted study" and that the questions referred to "sexual abuse with a professional," not necessarily a teacher. It is therefore logical to conclude that information on the percentage of abuses by teachers in the United Kingdom is not explicitly available and therefore not necessarily reliable. The AAUW study, however, posed questions about fourteen types of sexual harassment and various degrees of frequency and included only abuses by teachers. "The sample was drawn from a list of 80,000 schools to create a stratified two-stage sample design of 2,065 8th to 11th grade students" (17). Its reliability was gauged at 95% with a 4% margin of error. In the [[United States]] especially, several high-profile cases such as [[Debra LaFave]], [[Pamela Rogers]], and [[Mary Kay Latourneau]] have caused increased scrutiny on teacher misconduct. == World Teachers’ Day == {{Citations missing|date=January 2008}} [[UNESCO]] inaugurated World Teachers’ Day on [[5 October]][[1994]] to celebrate and commemorate the signing of the Recommendation Concerning the Status of Teachers on [[5 October]][[1966]]. World Teachers’ Day also highlighted the Recommendation Concerning the Status of Higher Education Teaching Personnel adopted in 1997. Some countries or regions such as [[Taiwan]] also celebrate [[Teacher's Day]] as a national holiday, while others ignore it completely. In [[Brazil]] and [[Chile]], it is celebrated on [[October 15]], while in [[India]] it is celebrated on [[5 September]], in honour of a thinker and President [[Dr. Radhakrishnan]].. In [[Brunei]], it is celebrated on [[September 23]]. In [[Turkey]] it has been celebrated on [[24 November]] since 1928. [[Northern Cyprus]] also celebrates this day. In [[Malaysia]] and in [[Colombia]], it is celebrated on [[16 May]]. In [[South Korea]], Teachers' Day is celebrated on [[15 May]]. Teachers' Day is a school holiday for students in [[Primary school|primary]] and secondary schools and junior colleges/centralised institutes in [[Singapore]] celebrated on [[1 September]]. In [[China]], it is celebrated on [[September 10]]. Although it is not a national holiday in [[China]], it is a custom for students to visit teachers that have taught them before on this day. == Spiritual teacher == {{Citations missing|date=January 2008}} {{main|Spiritual teacher}} In [[Hinduism]] the spiritual teacher is known as a [[guru]]. Traditionally, a spiritual seeker would revere his or her guru highly, and demonstrate utmost submission and humility through menial service in order to prove worthy to be a recipient of the knowledge the guru has attained by initiation practices. There are many sayings on the teacher like "Guru devo bhava" (Guru is God), which reflects of the esteem associated with a guru's role. In the [[Latter Day Saint movement]] the [[Teacher (Latter Day Saints)|teacher]] is an office in the [[Aaronic priesthood]], while in [[Tibetan Buddhism]] the teachers of [[Dharma]] in [[Tibet]] are most commonly called a [[Lama]]. A Lama who has through [[phowa]] and [[siddhi]] consciously determined to be reborn, often many times, in order to continue their [[Bodhisattva]] [[vow]] is called a [[Tulku]]. There are many concepts of [[teachers in Islam]], ranging from [[mullah]]s (the teachers at [[madrassa]]s) to [[ulema]]s. A Rabbi is generally regarded as the Jewish spiritual teacher. == See also == {{Commonscat|Teaching}} * [[Certified teacher]] * [[Paraprofessional educator]] * [[College of Education]] * [[Student teacher]] * [[Teacher's union]] * [[Substitute teacher]] == References == {{reflist|2}} {{wiktionary|schoolmarm}} [[Category:Teaching]] [[Category:Educators]] [[Category:Education, training, and library occupations]] [[bg:Учител]] [[ca:Mestre]] [[cv:Вĕрентекен]] [[cs:Učitel]] [[da:Lærer]] [[de:Lehrer]] [[es:Maestro]] [[eo:Instruisto]] [[fr:Enseignant]] [[he:מורה]] [[hr:Učitelj]] [[id:Guru]] [[it:Docente]] [[la:Magister]] [[lv:Skolotājs]] [[lt:Mokytojas]] [[jbo:preske]] [[ms:Guru]] [[nl:Onderwijzer]] [[ja:教員]] [[no:Lærer]] [[pl:Nauczyciel]] [[ru:Учитель]] [[sq:Mësuesi]] [[simple:Teacher]] [[fi:Opettaja]] [[sv:Lärare]] [[th:ครู]] [[uk:Педагог]] [[yi:לערער]] [[zh-yue:先生]] [[zh:教师]]