Skilled Workers v. Knowledge Based

Are teachers skilled workers or do they have a true knowledge base?

Every job requires a degree of skill. Lawyers learn the skills to write persuasive arguments. Oral surgeons learn the skills necessary to remove wisdom teeth. To me, skill is what you learn by doing something over and over until you could do it with your eyes shut. Sure teachers are skilled workers. They learn skills to teach children more effectively and to manage their classrooms. However, lawyers, doctors, as well as teachers also use their own judgments based on the knowledge and theories they have obtained to solve problems. Teachers must have more than skill. They must have a true knowledge base of the development of children, their brains, and even managerial knowledge.

According to Wikipedia, "professionals are autonomous insofar as they can make independent judgments about their work." This usually means "the freedom to exercise their professional judgement." Teachers are required to use their professional judgment each day to determine if a child has a speech problem, to help a child escape an abusive situation, or to determine the developmentally appropriate practices for a particular child. (Like Jennifer said in class) this is why I chose to get my MAT instead of jumping into the PACE program. I want the knowledge to make informed judgments on the issues that will arise in my classroom one day.

Yes, I believe teaching is a profession, but teachers are limited in the aspect of exercising their professional judgment in many situations. They are bound to the curriculum chosen and bound to the principal or school board's discretion on many issues. I believe teaching has to be this way because of the way schools are set up. Unlike most doctors and lawyers, teachers are not always the optimal decision makers and must answer to their principal, school board, and even the general public.