I love finding articles like this article from eSchool News entitled Ten Common Myths about Teaching. eSchool News recently asked readers: “If you could clear up one misconception about teachers and/or teaching, what would it be?” Our goal was not only to help others understand these misconceptions, but also to learn how teachers feel they are perceived by others. 
Here are 10 misconceptions about teachers and teaching that emerged from readers according to eSchool News:
1. Those who can’t do, teach.
Response: Teachers must be well educated in their field of study, of course, but that is only the beginning. Teachers need much pedagogical preparation on topics including educational psychology, classroom management, assessment, curriculum instruction, communication skills, and budgeting.
2. A teacher’s day ends at 3 p.m.
Response: The good teachers I know work before school starts and long after the students go home, and work all summer, too—taking classes and attending workshops to become a better teacher; working on developing activities, units, and lessons to help students learn better; and learning new skills to integrate technology into their classrooms.
3. Teachers get their summers off
Response: We spend them doing professional development and planning for the coming year—even more so if you are changing grade level or subject for the coming year.
4. If teachers are good at what they do, student grades and test scores will be good, too.
Response: The best teachers among us can never be identified by the performance of their students on tests. We should seek to find those teachers who instill in students a belief that they can and will be successful when they are confronted with challenges
5. Teaching is easy, and anyone can do it.
Response: We teachers must complete professional development and continuing education in order to maintain our licenses. Not only must we master pedagogical theory, but we also must put it into practice daily.
6. Teachers are solely responsible for learning.
Response: Parents need to play an active role [by] following up at home with study skills, health, nutrition, and reducing time spent watching TV and playing games!
7. If you went to school, you know what teaching is.
Response: We have policies and procedures made by people every day without any input from educational professionals, which just don’t make sense
8. Teachers are well-compensated for what they do.
Response: People do not realize that many hours of preparation are required, not only to do our jobs but also to do them well. In fact, those hours take place [on] weekdays, weekends, and even during vacations.
9. Teachers aren’t as good as they used to be.
Response: We still have young teachers eager to work and who will give their all. My great worry is that because of the cutbacks in state and federal budgets, many of these teachers don’t have the opportunity to even begin their careers.
10. Teachers are all the same.
That a statement about one teacher (or a select group of teachers) is a statement about all teachers.”
Check out the article for more information.
