A Vanderbilt University professor told Congressional lawmakers that the proper education of teachers, as well as students, is the key to creating a No Child Left Behind system that will have greater impact across the country.
Professor Camilla Benbow emphasized that quality higher education is critical to producing principals and teachers who can effectively influence students, especially in urban school districts.
“There can be no great teaching without great teacher preparation and we prepare more than 85 percent of the teachers.”
Benbow pointed out that teacher training needs to be assess ed according to a national standard. At a hearing on Capitol Hill, she listed examples of how research and training programs at Vanderbilt and other institutions have helped to create noteworthy educators.
“To demonstrate that we are part of the solution teachers consider special education. Teachers trained in special education have enabled students to make strides once unimaginable.”
Benbow also urged lawmakers to include teacher incentives in federal policy, and to restore all grant funding for higher education in the 2011 budget proposal.
Reported by Sara Sciammacco.
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