<p>Hello -- my son is a B student -- waiting to take SAT's -- he will be a junior next year. So, of course, we are NOT looking at Ivy league schools -- but a terrific all around college where he can live away and have a wonderful experience and really learn about what it takes to be a great Teacher. He has always been quite gifted with kids, has done community service for the past two years doing over 100 hours per year volunteering with under-privileged kids, and also volunteering at a YMCA Camp, where he was now hired as a counselor. He plays soccer & lacrosse, and sings in the chorus.</p>
<p>He is a wonderfully social kid with lots of friends, and I want to make sure he is at a great school. We live in New Jersey, but are open to all around the US.</p>
<p>Any recommendations from those of you who have other teaching-minded kids?</p>
<p>Or, what is the best reference materials/sites to get ratings/reviews on teaching/education majors? </p>
<p>NORTHWESTERN !!! The school of education and social policy is highly ranked and NU offers an amazing all-round education, plus an awesome location, campus, and student body. We have club and varsity soccer and lacrosse, and TONS of choral and acapella groups (seriously, there's a group for every theme imaginable). In addition, there are tons of community service oriented groups on campus. He should definitely check NU out.</p>
<p>Any large state university in a good location should fit the bill. To teach or to do social policy is going to require a masters degree anyway, and there are almost no fellowships or financial aid for teaching masters, so save the money now, and invest later. In addition, the state universities are much more likely to have hook-ups, internships, etc. with public schools in the state, and are places where the system is looking for future teachers.</p>
<p>To pay $200k for a degree in education (as you would at Northwestern) is nuts. Is Rutgers a problem? or are you trying to look further afield?</p>
This is not at all accurate where I teach and have taught (PA).</p>
<ol>
<li><p>re a master's being "required" - not true (not in PA, and I know of nowhere where it is the case, certainly not in NJ).
A master's degree will put you on a higher pay scale at most public districts, but is not at all required for employment. Most public school teachers get their first jobs with just the undergrad degree, and get their master's degrees at night/during summers -- with tuition reimbursement from their school districts. </p></li>
<li><p>Also, the private colleges in my area of suburban Philly have plenty of their students doing their internships and student teaching in the public schools.</p></li>
</ol>
Sorry, but I beg to disagree (vehemently) with this statement as well. My own kids have benefitted from learning from public school teachers with undergrad degrees from such schools as Swarthmore and U Penn. I oppose the idea that attendance at a selective, high quality private college is "wasted" on a future teacher. As a matter of fact, the highly competitive Teach for America program actively solicits students from such schools.</p>
<p>I'm looking to do Education as well. It's nice to know another guy is interested in it. I'm hoping to go to Boston University, which from what I have heard has a good edu. program.</p>
<p>Also, Michigan State is from what I heard is tops in education.</p>
<p>connecticut college, for the following reasons:
1. one of the best education departments
2. because of the female majority, a male doesnt have to be a straight A student to get in.
3. its on the list of "Colleges With a Conscience: 81 Great Schools with Outstanding Community Involvement," of which it seems that your son would appreciate
4. a capella groups are very popular
5. nescac athletic league (arguably the league with one of the best combinations of academics/sports), but also very competitive club soccer, as well as intramurals for all abilities.
6. students are serious about their studies, but insist on having fun.</p>
<p>"Sorry, but I beg to disagree (vehemently) with this statement as well. My own kids have benefitted from learning from public school teachers with undergrad degrees from such schools as Swarthmore and U Penn."</p>
<p>They would have been exactly the same people, with exactly the same motivation, and perhaps more in-depth education had they received their college educations at places where there were substantial numbers of education professors, substantial number of educational and educational research internships, and substantial numbers of linkages to the schools in which they are likely to make their careers. In other words, I am saying flat out that an education major who chooses to spend $45k at Swarthmore can get a better professional education elsewhere AND have lots of money left over to use for unpaid internships and professional opportunities (to the tune of $110k - that can buy an awful lot of education.)</p>
<p>Swarthmore v. Rutgers PLUS $110k to use for educational purposes, for an education major? Not even close.</p>
<p>For the student who couldn't get into Swarthmore anyway, the comparison is a non-starter.</p>
<p>Cost is a non issue for me. Even with tuition at around $45K a year, i'd much rather go to BU for 180K than Penn State for 44K. Who the heck wouldnt want to be in a place like Boston over State College?</p>
THEY would argue with you, as they (and they are teachers who specifically pushed kids I know who were on the fence between the very good state U and higher level privates to pursue the latter) feel that they benefited enormously from their private educations. They were exposed to people from all over the country and the world. THEY feel that they grew much more as students and as individuals from the greater exposures their schools offered them compared to the state school alternative. </p>
<p>As for Penn (where there are, by the way, plenty of education professors -- including one of the most highly regarded public school district superintendents I knew in my years as an education editor):
The School of Education at U Penn is tough to beat for involvement and opportunities for educational innovation in public schools. (I was employed by the School District of Philadelphia in an innovative U Penn-supported program at one time.) Penn has, by the way, also taken over leadership of several Philadelphia public schools. </p>
<p>Regarding Swarthmore, the teacher who came out of that school was by far the BEST English/lit/writing teacher my D ever had, and he says he learned it ALL at Swat. </p>
<p>Of course, I have also known some great teachers who graduated from state schools. But that does not mean it is a waste of money to have a future teacher attend a private school. </p>
<p>Mini, we may just have to agree to disagree, but I did not want to let your pronouncements go unchallenged. It is not ALL about the money (IMO). I hate to see future teachers told they should simply, and without thoughtful consideration, take the "best bargain" degree - unless that also happens to be the best opportunity/best personal fit OR only practical/feasible option. From what I have seen, different paths have different advantages and disadvantages. It is more nuanced, I feel, than what you suggest.</p>
<p>my parents have spent over 70 combined years as public school teachers and have seen far more than their share of student teachers in the process. what school does the best job of actually teaching people to teach? the local state teachers college, a third tier regional university. it does a far better job than penn states highly ranked education school or any of the local private universities. </p>
<p>this isnt to say that i discount the value of a good education. if you want to go to swarthmore or penn, do so. but in my mind it makes far more sense to spend that time and money taking english or math or history classes--in other words, learning your subject--followed with an inexpensive one year certification program.</p>
<p>I agree with mini. There's a local Princeton grad who is now teaching grade school. The first thing anyone (including myself) asks is why the heck did she go the Princeton (meaning why did she spend that kind of money)to be a teacher (NO disrespect meant to any teachers please, I'm just commenting on what people invariably say). After graduation she then had to arrange for her certification.</p>
<p>For FAR less investment, go to TCNJ if you can get in, alternately Rowan or even Montclair, Wm Paterson, etc where Education is their forte. Or Rutgers. We (in NJ) have a fair # of kids who cross the border for West Chester or Penn State or UDel.....I don't think the "experience" of uh, another Middle Atlantic state, is worth the thousands of $ you'd save staying instate.</p>
<p>2331, did you ever consider that it was Princeton University that inspired that individual to be a teacher? It's no news that a proper education can be had at many colleges at a relatively low price. But if an undergraduate wants to attend Princeton (or the like) and wants to be a teacher and is willing to secure the extra financial resources that a Princeton education will demand, then why criticize her decision? Count me among the crowd that believes that high school students should find a college that's a good fit for them overall; where the first order of business is to stimulate, challenge and get them thinking.</p>