Resolution on Pedagogical Preparation of College Teachers - National Council of Teachers of English

Position Statements

NCTE and its constituent groups have developed position statements on a variety of education issues vital to the teaching and learning of English language arts.

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Position Statements

Resolution on Pedagogical Preparation of College Teachers


Category: Teacher Quality
Print Statement

1973 NCTE Annual Business Meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Background

This resolution stemmed from concern among college-level members of NCTE that graduate departments of English, many of whose students are studying to become professors of literature, language, and composition, place great emphasis on mastery of a subject area but, “in too many instances,” offer “no formal training in the skills necessary for successful teaching.” As a result, the proposers stated, many Ph.D.’s “are only partially successful in their attempts to instruct learners with a wide range of abilities and backgrounds.” Be it therefore

Resolution

Resolved, that the National Council of Teachers of English apprise graduate English departments of its rising concern for improved quality in the preparation of graduate students to teach effectively at the college level; and

that NCTE encourage such departments to accept the responsibility of providing education in basic pedagogical skills through formal programs, internships, and other comparable experiences.

 

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