In the April issue of Education Update, the article "Supporting Struggling Teachers" asks whether struggling teachers should get the boot or be retrained. Robyn Jackson, author of Never Work Harder Than Your Students and Other Principles of Great Teaching, says, "Teachers don't get have the option of getting rid of 'bad' kids, so why is our only solution to get rid of 'bad' teachers?" Some education experts and administrators say professional development, coaching, and mentoring can give underperforming teachers the tools they need to improve.
What do you think—should they stay, or should they go? How can you help teachers who struggle in the classroom?
[Bonus: Check out this new report (PDF) from the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future on how best to retain inexperienced new teachers with learning teams.]
