Is teaching a profession?
U1M2A1: Is teaching a profession?
Write a reflection on why you think teaching is a profession or why you think it is not a profession.
I never before realized there was any controversy to whether teaching is considered a profession, I thought it was implicit. I suppose it boils down to the semantics of the term “profession”. To me a profession is a synonym for a job. I do consider auto mechanics and hair stylist to be a profession. The author Alan
Newland, who wrote the Guardian article, Is Teaching A Profession? (2012) makes the distinction that auto mechanics can be criminals for all he cares, and are not held up to the same standard of professionalism as are doctors and lawyers that have been extensively trained. Newland’s point is that we expect more professionalism from nurses, doctors and lawyers than we do electricians, plumbers and hairdressers. Trust and reputation are not as strong as they are not looked at as being role models, according to Newland. To him teaching is clearly a profession as it requires that higher level professional role model aspect.
This lead me to wonder exactly how the term profession was defined. According to an article by Webb and Webb (1917): “A profession is a vocation founded upon specialized educational training, the purpose of which is to supply disinterested objective counsel and service to others, for a direct and definite
compensation, wholly apart from expectation of other business gain”. This is exactly what my initial instinct was of the definition, a profession is a job, a vocation and requires specialized education. Hairdressers, electricians, plumbers and auto mechanic's all have required specialized training albeit not to the same
level of investment as a doctor with 8+ years upper level education and massive debt to show for it. Also interesting was the delineation of the evolution of profession by Perks (1993), in the article Accounting and Society. Perks lists 7 major milestones which may mark an occupation being identified as a
profession:
1. an occupation becomes a full-time occupation
2. the establishment of a training school
3. the establishment of a university school
4. the establishment of a local association
5. the establishment of a national association
6. the introduction of codes of professional ethics
7. the establishment of state licensing laws
By this definition the final stage of the components of an official profession would be state licensing. Different societies have different expectations of state licensing requirements. I believe in the US hairdressing licensure is offered by a local training school in association with a national association. State licensing requirements are more stringent for accountants, doctors and teachers who are issued state licensing.
In Switzerland, licensing is even more stringent than in the US. Perhaps because there is ambiguity in the US system where some people can work getting on the job training without ever getting a certificate showing proof of that training. The system is different here, all students graduate with apprenticeship training that includes certification in a vocation of their choice. As a result, blue collared vocations are more respected. Personal services such as haircuts cost 85 francs and tire changing costs around 100.-. The idea being that even these people deserve great vacations and they work just as hard as a white collared business professionals. No one would bring their vehicle to an unlicensed professional, state requirement include an updated vehicle passport that includes the professional who worked on your vehicle and their certification. A person without training would not be able to get a job without proof of professional training. Immigrant don’t work under the table, they get training and a license. As a result, social stratification seems to be less of an issue, all are working professionals.
Societal rank was much more important in the Victorian era than it is today. To me this “us against them” mentality is outdated. I understand some professions have more stringent state licensing requirements and include a higher education investment and consequently they are paid more (or should be). Also, as licensing requirements increase so does the professional standing of any given vocation. However, the use of the term as a means of delineating social stratification seems unnecessary. All vocations deserve respect and implying that teaching is not a profession is ignoring the stringent standards in place for state/government licensure and the 5+ years of higher education. The fact that teaching is a profession is not disputable to any degree.
Perks, R.W. (1993) Accounting and Society. Chapman & Hall (London); ISBN 0-412-47330-5. P.2. Webb, Sidney and Webb Beatrice (April 1917) Architects Services Chapter 7. New Statesman. Retrieved from
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140402141250/http://www.competition-commis
sion.org.uk/rep_pub/reports/1976_1979/fulltext/108c07.pdf
Write a reflection on why you think teaching is a profession or why you think it is not a profession.
I never before realized there was any controversy to whether teaching is considered a profession, I thought it was implicit. I suppose it boils down to the semantics of the term “profession”. To me a profession is a synonym for a job. I do consider auto mechanics and hair stylist to be a profession. The author Alan
Newland, who wrote the Guardian article, Is Teaching A Profession? (2012) makes the distinction that auto mechanics can be criminals for all he cares, and are not held up to the same standard of professionalism as are doctors and lawyers that have been extensively trained. Newland’s point is that we expect more professionalism from nurses, doctors and lawyers than we do electricians, plumbers and hairdressers. Trust and reputation are not as strong as they are not looked at as being role models, according to Newland. To him teaching is clearly a profession as it requires that higher level professional role model aspect.
This lead me to wonder exactly how the term profession was defined. According to an article by Webb and Webb (1917): “A profession is a vocation founded upon specialized educational training, the purpose of which is to supply disinterested objective counsel and service to others, for a direct and definite
compensation, wholly apart from expectation of other business gain”. This is exactly what my initial instinct was of the definition, a profession is a job, a vocation and requires specialized education. Hairdressers, electricians, plumbers and auto mechanic's all have required specialized training albeit not to the same
level of investment as a doctor with 8+ years upper level education and massive debt to show for it. Also interesting was the delineation of the evolution of profession by Perks (1993), in the article Accounting and Society. Perks lists 7 major milestones which may mark an occupation being identified as a
profession:
1. an occupation becomes a full-time occupation
2. the establishment of a training school
3. the establishment of a university school
4. the establishment of a local association
5. the establishment of a national association
6. the introduction of codes of professional ethics
7. the establishment of state licensing laws
By this definition the final stage of the components of an official profession would be state licensing. Different societies have different expectations of state licensing requirements. I believe in the US hairdressing licensure is offered by a local training school in association with a national association. State licensing requirements are more stringent for accountants, doctors and teachers who are issued state licensing.
In Switzerland, licensing is even more stringent than in the US. Perhaps because there is ambiguity in the US system where some people can work getting on the job training without ever getting a certificate showing proof of that training. The system is different here, all students graduate with apprenticeship training that includes certification in a vocation of their choice. As a result, blue collared vocations are more respected. Personal services such as haircuts cost 85 francs and tire changing costs around 100.-. The idea being that even these people deserve great vacations and they work just as hard as a white collared business professionals. No one would bring their vehicle to an unlicensed professional, state requirement include an updated vehicle passport that includes the professional who worked on your vehicle and their certification. A person without training would not be able to get a job without proof of professional training. Immigrant don’t work under the table, they get training and a license. As a result, social stratification seems to be less of an issue, all are working professionals.
Societal rank was much more important in the Victorian era than it is today. To me this “us against them” mentality is outdated. I understand some professions have more stringent state licensing requirements and include a higher education investment and consequently they are paid more (or should be). Also, as licensing requirements increase so does the professional standing of any given vocation. However, the use of the term as a means of delineating social stratification seems unnecessary. All vocations deserve respect and implying that teaching is not a profession is ignoring the stringent standards in place for state/government licensure and the 5+ years of higher education. The fact that teaching is a profession is not disputable to any degree.
References
Newland, Alan (July 2012) The Guardian. Is Teaching a Profession? Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/2012/jul/31/is-teaching-a-professionPerks, R.W. (1993) Accounting and Society. Chapman & Hall (London); ISBN 0-412-47330-5. P.2. Webb, Sidney and Webb Beatrice (April 1917) Architects Services Chapter 7. New Statesman. Retrieved from
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140402141250/http://www.competition-commis
sion.org.uk/rep_pub/reports/1976_1979/fulltext/108c07.pdf
Comments
Post a Comment