The Brown & White

In a speech at the University of Delaware last Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan made a call to action for all U.S. colleges of education to improve the way they prepare the next generation of teachers.

"America's university-based teacher preparation programs need revolutionary change - not evolutionary tinkering," Duncan said in his speech.

The appeal is part of a plan to radically change the curricula in schools of education across the country.

Lehigh was already planning to make some adjustments that are consistent with Duncan's goals.

"Students will receive many, many more hours of classroom-based experiences in the new program as well as more inclusive practice for special needs and ELL [English language learners] students," said MJ Bishop, associate professor and program coordinator of Lehigh's College of Education.

The program will focus much more on experience and training in a certain area of specialization. In this aspect, Lehigh's College of Education is already ahead of the schools that Duncan is calling to for improvement.

The college maintains a strong emphasis on research, both for students and professors. New research focuses on finding better learning programs that can improve the ways of old.

In addition to the research component of the College of Education, its curriculum is slightly different from many programs. Students receive a bachelor's degree first, and then go on to receive their Master's degree in education. This is all encompassed in a 5-year program that really begins to incorporate teaching after graduation.

Upon graduating, fifth-year students take four summer classes before entering the classroom for observation in the fall. This is followed by student teaching in the spring.

"I've had the ability to gain an education by taking courses other than only education," said Jen Ingalls, '10. "I'm grateful for Lehigh's decision to gradually introduce material throughout the undergrad process."

She said the gradual incorporation of education classes at Lehigh is different from the education majors at other schools.

"Friends I have at other schools chose education as their major and began their courses as early as freshman year and have felt overwhelmed by the workload," Ingalls said.

Instead, at Lehigh, students become comfortable in a specific field before they begin work in the classroom.

According to Duncan, schools of education in the U.S. will need to accept up to 200,000 first-time teachers each year for the next five years in order to keep up with the demand in education.

Duncan is making this call to action to insist that these newly graduated teachers are prepared to teach.

"The problem is a complex one," said Ron Yoshida, professor of education. "This is a good first step, but it is not just the Colleges of Education that have to change."

"The state has all the say," said Yoshida. "However, colleges can help to sculpt the requirements."

The changes will not be happening quickly, but for now, Duncan said, changes need to be made in the way schools are preparing their teachers.

"The call to overhaul teacher education programs is a very positive move," said Bishop. "Duncan was right on the mark in his speech."