Good Teacher, Bad Teacher

Teachers in other countries are generally respected. In South Korea, teachers are called "nation founders." In Finland, both men and women ranked teaching in the top three most desirable careers for their spouses. However, there is an old saying in the United States - "Only the incompetent can teach others", which reflects the condescending attitude of Americans towards educators. To understand how Americans view teachers, one must understand the history of American education: high expectations for public education as a meritocracy, but at the same time a reluctance to invest heavily in the public organizations, teachers, and schools involved. The conflict between the two may have something to do with how Americans view teachers. Who should teach in public schools; what should be taught; how to educate, train, and hire teachers; how to pay teachers; how to evaluate and fire teachers: Americans have debated all these issues for two centuries, but have largely failed to reach a consensus. The book "Good Teachers, Bad Teachers" reviews the 175-year history of American education and finds the root of the many difficulties currently facing public education in the United States from past experience.