Tomorrow's Teachers

Believing that arguments about the number of years of teacher education required and whether they are better done in graduate or undergraduate contexts are not important, Shanker accepts the basic model of teacher education found in the Holmes Group report, which includes a liberal education, mastery of a subject, professional specialization, and a structured clinical induction program. However, he warns that the impending teacher shortage may fill our teaching ranks with just any warm bodies unless we all work toward making this model a reality and instituting a profession-based national teacher exam.