1. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Being a Teacher

Go to Teachers.net and spend some time visiting a teacher chatroom or chatboard.

There are many areas to choose from, so we suggest you select one that reflects your particular career interests -- perhaps a specific subject or grade level.

As you "listen in" on the discussion, construct three different "You Be the Judge" sheets like that starting on page 6. They need not be as long as the "You Be the Judge" in the book, but you should use at least one teacher quote to support each advantage and disadvantage you identify. Can you detect any differences between the comments of first-year and veteran teachers? How do their attitudes differ?

If you have time, you may want to join in the discussion by soliciting opinions and practical advice about your own career goals. Find out what these teachers find most challenging about their jobs, and what is most gratifying. In what ways do their perceptions mirror the "You Be the Judge" in the text?

2. A Closer Look at Teach for America

Teach for America is a controversial program in which highly motivated volunteers undergo a very brief teacher training program and enter some of America's most difficult classrooms. Many educators see programs like this as the height of irresponsibility and the opposite of profession building. To learn more about Teach for America, click here to visit their web site. As you peruse this site, make a list of the pros and cons of this type of program. What is your opinion of its value? For a very different approach, visit the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards site. In your opinion, can these two programs complement and support each other, or are they in conflict by definition? Explain your answer.

3. Why Become a Teacher?

First, make a list of the reasons behind your decision to explore a teaching career. Make sure you rank them in order of importance. When you are finished, look at the "Reasons Given for Choosing a Teaching Career". Compare your reasons with those given by others. What did you learn about yourself, and your future colleagues?

Next, click here to read about how some educators in Japan answered the question, "Why become a teacher?" How do their answers compare to your own? Did any of their answers surprise you? Discuss the cultural and/or professional factors that might account for motivational differences between Japanese and North American teachers.

Want to explore this in greater depth? Check out inter-mission 1:5.

4. Teacher Tenure

The following links will take you to on-line articles about teacher tenure. Use these articles (and other on-line resources, if necessary) to answer the questions below.

"The Facts about Teacher Tenure"

"Ever Try to Flunk a Bad Teacher?"

"Time to Get Off the Tenure Track"

What are the pros and cons of teacher tenure? What is your opinion on this issue? What organizations are involved in supporting or attacking tenure? Are there groups that reflect your point of view? How would you feel about working without tenure protection?

5. The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards

Click here to visit the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Web site. As you enter the teaching profession you will want to stay abreast of the activities concerning the NBPTS and determine if you want to work toward board certification.

What are the latest activities and initiatives of this organization? Write a two-paragraph update for the NBPTS section of Chapter 15. Your update should be entitled "The NBPTS: Latest Developments and Future Plans."

Now that you are more familiar with this organization, do you think you will work toward board certification? Why or why not?

6. Teacher Recognition: Merit Pay

Merit pay plans are controversial in the educational community. Using the following Web sites for reference, write a position paper expressing your own views on this topic. Is merit pay a good way to improve teacher performance? Would you want to work in a merit pay environment? Of all the teacher recognition/compensation alternatives discussed in your textbook and on these Web sites, which makes the most sense to you? Explain your answers.

AFT on the Issues: Merit Pay

Merit Pay for Teachers

Merit Pay for Teachers: A Meritorious Concept or Not

7. Teacher Associations: The NEA and AFT

To further explore the question posed at the end of Chapter 14-- "Does the NEA or AFT speak for you?" -- check out the following Web sites.

National Education Association

American Federation of Teachers

What do these sites tell you about these organizations that is not covered in your textbook? After perusing both Web sites, has your opinion of either organization changed? Which are you more inclined to join? Explain your answer.

Be sure to check out the AFT affiliates in your state and/or local area. Then explore the corresponding NEA affiliates . Do these more localized organizations give you a different impression of the NEA or AFT? Compare your affiliates to affiliates in other states and local areas. How much variation is there among these organizations?