Most people in out societies discriminate other professions while associating others with prestige. One of them that people look down upon is teaching profession. However, teaching is a profession that has contributed much in educating people who later join other professions and therefore, it should earn a lot of respect and teachers should feel esteemed (Professional attitudes. 2009). The lag in professionalism should be a basis for management’s intervention and continue on the path of improvement in competency, image, conduct, performance, and industry engagement. There are some organizations that have proposed for the improvement in the professional development of teachers.
Some of the recommendations necessary to improve professional development include setting standards. These measures can help to improve the quality and efficiency of professional development. However, the proposals have to be discussed by stakeholders that include the government and the policymakers and to engage teachers in the process of standard setting. Teachers have been having insight on professional development and efficiency and would support the changes entirely if they are allowed to take part in the process (Weinberger, Patry & Weyringer, 2015). For them to succeed, the policymakers need to be clear about the issue that they are trying to address and the conditions under which these workers are likely to change their practices. They must also consider the character and the experience that the teachers have with the scarce resources available. They must try to be efficient, provide additional resources so as to make use of the expertise already in the system.
The advantage of setting standards is that all the teachers everywhere in the country have to carry out their duties following certain conditions and based on uniformity. It makes it easy for the top officials in the sector to conduct a similar or uniform assessment because they have a platform on which they can make reference. The merit of joint work and job enrichment is the ability to make teachers feel togetherness and to have a common goal to achieve. Job enrichment makes them feel esteemed and gets motivated (Teachers’ work. n.d.). However, the disadvantages can include the difference in facilities available in various schools that result in varying targets and outcomes. It can also be challenging to mobilize a significant number of teachers in the country to do joint work primarily because teachers specialize and teach different subjects.
The management has to put in place ways of evaluating the discussed proposals for improvement. These approaches include carrying out surveys in schools to assess if the teachers are following the standards that are in place. It is also necessary that the board of professionalism members of staff should visit the teachers in schools to discuss with them the challenges that the have. Questioning the pupils about the behaviors that teachers show in class is an effective way because these students give first-hand information (Professionalism and Ethics in Teaching. 1999). The officials will then carry out the necessary measure if any of the educators does not follow the guidelines.
In conclusion, most people in our societies view some of the professionals such as doctors, psychologists, lawyers, and other scientists as prestigious. They look down upon the teaching profession because it does not have a dressing code or the way teachers show some unethical behaviors in classrooms at times (Thomson, 2013). However, teachers’ supervision and assessment can be fruitful in the path towards maintaining professionalism in this field. There should be measures to evaluate the performance of each and every teacher so that their conduct is molded. Just like in the business organizations where managers motivate their employees, teachers also need motivations regarding promotions as well and regular training.
References
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