After reading Strike's "Is Teaching a Profession: How Would We Know?" I discovered several valid points. Strike asked the question, "Is teaching a profession?" He indicated the paradigm cases of professions including medicine and law whereas he considered teaching as a quasi-profession, a lesser extent than the paradigm cases. Why is it important to consider teaching a profession? I agree with Strike when he mentioned, "...if it is believed that teaching is a profession, we will act differently. The status of the occupation will be enhanced. We may pay teachers better. We may find recruitment easier, etc...." I believe that teaching should be considered a profession due to the high qualifications and standards that a teacher must meet. We are required to take tests and take continuing education courses in order to keep our certification, which is similar to a doctor’s requirements. Strike focused on the knowledge base of a teacher in order to perform adequately. I do agree that knowledge base is necessary in order to become a competent teacher.
Strike expressed, "if teaching is a profession, evaluation must be rooted in the knowledge base." As teachers, we are evaluated on our knowledge base before we enter the profession through various assessments, such as the PRAXIS and student teaching. If a teacher did not have an adequate amount of knowledge base, then he or she could not be admitted into the profession of teaching. Strike also questions, "Why not value teachers for what they do?" I think that society today, more than ever, does value teachers. With our expectations and standards increasing yearly, I believe that society is beginning to realize that we do not teach for those three assumed reasons: June, July, and August. Teachers choose this profession obviously not for the money, but for the opportunity to serve the community by educating children and motivating them to believe in themselves. Without the profession of teaching, society would be empty including students with no hopes, dreams, and opportunities to strive for excellence.
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Remember though that for Strike, the KIND of knowledge base it also important. His version (content knowledge) is different from most (pedagogical knowledge).
I agree that The public may be gaining more respect for what teachers are up against but in order to gain professional status, Strike argues there needs to be more universal pedagogical knowledge that in itself, is known unique to teachers.
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