What skills are actually learnt in university that can't be taught in a one or two year college course as was the case up until the mid-70's? I can almost guarantee that for anyone over 40 most of your best teachers were the product of that system. Many went on to get degrees (to up their pay levels) but they were teachers first and the distinction is important.
As was pointed out above, and is true in many professions, the actual materiel to be taught can be broken down into segments and instructed by individuals who really don't have a lot of background: excepting sciences and maths. History, geography and the like can be acquired by personal study. They are simply knowledge based classes. In fact, getting rid of the history majors might not hurt as the courses would have to revert to events, causes and results based on facts rather than the teacher's interpretation, clouded by his/her own biases. Languages need specialised teachers for sure but a four year major in languages does not provide the skills necessary to present the language in a way that permits the student to master it.
The skills needed to teach are not taught in a general course. They come after the fact and are or should be focused on lesson preparation, presentation, classroom management, discipline, dealing with parents and child behaviour. We have put the emphasis on academic qualifications and taken it off teaching capability. IMHO
As was pointed out above, and is true in many professions, the actual materiel to be taught can be broken down into segments and instructed by individuals who really don't have a lot of background: excepting sciences and maths. History, geography and the like can be acquired by personal study. They are simply knowledge based classes. In fact, getting rid of the history majors might not hurt as the courses would have to revert to events, causes and results based on facts rather than the teacher's interpretation, clouded by his/her own biases. Languages need specialised teachers for sure but a four year major in languages does not provide the skills necessary to present the language in a way that permits the student to master it.
The skills needed to teach are not taught in a general course. They come after the fact and are or should be focused on lesson preparation, presentation, classroom management, discipline, dealing with parents and child behaviour. We have put the emphasis on academic qualifications and taken it off teaching capability. IMHO