I’m not sure how I feel about this blog and the subsequent comments that I read in today’s Atlanta Journal-Constitution. I definitely agree that to be a good teacher, it is not REQUIRED that you have a higher degree. It is important that you know your subject matter, and that you have the true desire to educate students and push them to be the best that they can be.

I was definitely upset that I saw a lot of comments that hinted that Education degrees are useless. While I have my undergraduate degree in Sociology and African-American Studies, I find it very useful that my Masters of Education will be in Social Studies Education. Not only will my Masters degree give me my certification to teach in the state of Georgia, I am given the opportunity to take courses that help you understand the Methodology of Social Studies Education, or the ideas behind curriculum and planning for classes. Additionally, we are encouraged to take courses such as Teaching US History, Teaching Geography, Teaching Economics, and courses in Special Education to fulfill the requirements for graduation.

I felt that it was very important for me to continue and get my Masters in Education, so that I could sharpen my craft of being a teacher. While there are aspects of the curriculum that seem very theoretical, there are also aspects that are very realistic and applicable. It bothers me that teachers are criticized for wanting to get higher degrees and higher pay. Why shouldn’t practice what they preach and continue with their learning in a formal setting? (We all know that learning also takes place in an informal setting). And why shouldn’t teachers want to get paid more? What if we as a society placed our priorities in the right place and truly paid teachers what they deserve for the work that they do?

I don’t know anyone who’s into teaching for the pay. And I also don’t know anyone who’s gone on to pursue a higher degree SOLELY for the reason of making more money. The people that I know are truly interested in making a difference in the lives of young people, and they feel that one way that they can be better prepared to do that is by having a Masters or a Ph.D. And I’ve had phenomenal teachers who hadn’t gone on to get whatever degree that would have gotten them more money. I’ve had phenomenal teachers who had gone on to get whatever degree that got them more money. Their advanced degree might have said that they had obtained more knowledge, but their passion and desire to help students was what made the difference in the classroom.

Whew. All that said, what do you all think? How educated should our teachers be? Does a teacher having that Masters or that Ph.D make a difference? Leave some comments…

…already in progress. So, I had a WONDERFUL weekend traveling home to NC to hang out with friends and to watch my beloved Holly from 2nd Beall graduate from NC State University.

I love going back home for a number of reasons, such as seeing friends and family, visiting Carolina, and enjoying the familiarity of the NC landscape. I’ve had a really long semester here at UGA, and I think this trip home was much needed. It allowed me to reconnect with people who I hold dear to my heart, to truly see how much I’ve grown over the past year, and to really appreciate where I’ve come from.

In my last post, when I talked about what I wish I knew before I had graduated, I stated that the best discovery true friends can make is that they can grow separately without growing apart. I was reminded of this while being at home, and having the chance to hang out with friends from high school and college. Though we’ve all chosen different paths for ourselves, there’s still the same love and support for each other…and we’re able to pick up where we’ve left off and reminisce about old times. I believe there’s much to be said about people who have been your friends for a while; who have witnessed you as you grow and become who you are destined to be, and still love you for it.

I’m back to my regularly scheduled life now, which mainly includes working and school; but I’m so energized and encoruaged about the weekend that I’ve had at home. Shouts go out to my friends and my family for helping to sustain me and re-energize me. Praise God for the people that He has placed in my to uplift me and encourage me and support me. I’m so grateful.

Be encouraged!
Peace and Blessings!

“There are so many different ways to be connected to people. There are the people you feel this unspoken connection to, even though there’s not even a word for it. There’s the people who you’ve known forever who know you in this way that other people can’t because they’ve seen you change. They’ve let you change.” ~My So-Called Life

“…as close to magic as I’ve ever been.” ~Thomas Wolfe, on his time at Carolina

“…and it seems like it goes on like this forever. You must forgive me if I’m up and gone to Carolina in my mind…” ~James Taylor