Published: October 22, 2008

The Three 'Buts' of Teacher Preparation

I vividly remember graduating from a teacher-education program almost 30 years ago. I remember the bold way I walked into a school district’s central office that June and asked to speak to a personnel director. The receptionist told me to “fill out this application and mail it back.” I took it, walked across the parking lot to my car, and stopped dead in my tracks.

“No!” I yelled inside my young mind. “I’m not leaving without a job!” I marched back into the building to the same receptionist and asked her to give me a list of the names of the high school principals. She smirked and announced that I wouldn’t be able to reach any of them—they were all in a meeting room right behind me. I thanked her, turned and walked to the door leading to that room and waited. After an hour, the door opened and I jumped in front of the first person I saw.

“I want a job!” I declared to an alarmed principal and everyone else within earshot. In August,...