Moats Discusses Civil Unions With Power, Not Timidity

Author: Jasim Johnson

"Student teaching is a daily dose of inspiration," said Peter Day '01, who is currently completing the student teaching program at Middlebury Union Middle School and High School.

Day is one of 12 members of the Teacher Education Program at the College who are student-teaching at local schools in Addison County this fall. The Teacher Education program, founded over 80 years ago, is a small department dedicated to exposing its students to prominent educators that can use the strength of their liberal arts education to contribute to the community.

The department offers five minors: education, elementary education, secondary education and the latter pair plus recommendation for the licensure necessary for teaching in public schools in Vermont. The Vermont licensure is reciprocated in 37 other states. Students who want to pursue this minor are required to take courses in psychology and education, student teach for a full semester (the experiential learning portion of the curriculum), complete a teacher licensure portfolio and pass two state exams, Praxis I and II. Participants usually complete their student teaching in a ninth semester, most often the one following their graduation. However, there are also alternate routes to obtaining a minor in teacher education here at Middlebury.

"I came to the ninth semester as 'non-traditional student' which means nothing more than that I had been out of the Middlebury system for more than one year. Leaving for a year after graduation before returning to teach was perhaps one of the best decisions I made; I feel I was able to tackle the professional semester with more experience and energy," said Carina Beyer '00.

The course is definitely one that requires energy. "People say Middlebury is known for its dedication to foreign language study, but little do they know that the Teacher Education Program may be the most intense immersion program. Student teaching is really like stepping into another culture and country where you have traveled before but have forgotten the language," observed Rosemary Nash '01, who is currently teaching English at Middlebury Union High School.

Another student, Katherine Batty '01, says that a lot remains that is not known about the option. "I think that there are many student misconceptions of the Teacher Education Program as being easy classes to take to get an A. The truth is, I have never worked as hard in my academic career as I do now. Because of the long hours in the classroom and the really early mornings, I barely have time for myself and for friends. But, I make sure to always have time for the students at Mount Abe [in Bristol]."

A successful program, Middlebury's Teacher Education Program has produced hundreds of licensed teachers who go into the field of education as well as many other professions. The student teacher element of the course is one of its most demanding and effective. Through a multifaceted partnership with kindergarten through twelfth grade schools called Partners in Education, a collaborative program offering extended opportunities has been made possible.

"I have learned more about teaching this semester from my cooperating teacher than I have in any semester at Middlebury. You really need to immerse yourself in the daily life of a class to know what teaching is all about, " said Hannah Ritchie '02, who teaches first grade at Weybridge Elementary School.

The program does not just benefit the students by allowing them to familiarize themselves, hands-on, with the classroom experience. This program also brought about communication with the community, which is a two-sided advantage.

Amy Shanks '01, a Spanish major, noted that, "over the past four years I have become a member of the Addison community through my work in the local schools. I have been able to take what I have learned through my courses in psychology, education and Spanish and have been able to apply them to my daily life. Not many college students can say that."

Bob Prigo, director of Teacher Education at Middlebury, explained that besides the daily supervision of the cooperating teacher during his or her semester of student teaching, each student is also supervised by a teacher education faculty member and by a liberal arts professor (known as a liberal arts mentor). Many of the students reported that these support persons have provided tremendous inspiration for their teaching methods and in their lives in general. Understandably, there can be times when understanding the students can be difficult for the brand new teacher. Teaching is, after all, a skill acquired and perfected over a lifetime.

"There are cooperating teachers and colleagues who help translate so the dialogue of learning can flow fluidly," said a grateful Nash.

"Joy has been a great role model for me, and I will take many aspects of her teaching style and professionalism with me as I move on to my own classroom," says Ritchie, of Joy Dobson, her cooperating teacher at the Weybridge Elementary School.

Beyer's mentor at the College is Prigo himself. "Bob is hysterical! The kids love him and frequently ask, 'Where is Bob?' He is incredibly helpful in every respect and has clearly found his niche in the department. He and Gregg [Humphrey, the College's Elementary Teacher Education Coordinator] are a dynamic duo that makes the sometimes stressful teaching semester very bearable. Between the two of them, there is never a dull moment, always a fountain of knowledge and resources. Most incredible is that they always have time for us!"