American Teacher Education Reform And Teacher Professionalism

The objective of teacher education reform in the world is to realize teacher professionalism to make teachers (elementary school and high school) a profession just as doctor, lawyer and so on, having high status and better treatment. Teacher education reform is one of the most important channels to bring about teacher professionalism.The thesis is divided into five parts:The thesis discusses the connotation of profession, professionalism as well as the fetures of teacher profession. Teacher is a semi-profession, which needs a professionlazation to make professionalism come true. At last, the article presents the forming process and connotation of the teacher professionalism.In the part two, the thesis looks back to the history of American teacher education which is divided into 4 stages by the author: (1) the origin of teacher education(before 1823); (2) the extensive expansion of normal school (form 1823 to 1882); (3) the establishment of teacher college(form 1882 to WWII); (4) teacher training in liberal arts colleges and universities (form WWII to 1980s). Judging forming the criteria of teacher professionalism, we may draw a conclusion that although American hasn't put forward " teacher professionalism" explicitly in theory in that time, it continuously tired its best to make teacher professionalism come true in practice.In part three, the thesis presents the background, policies and main content of teacher education reform in 1980s in American. In this reform, "teacher professionalism" was clearly stated as its aim.In the part four, the thesis analyzes the status quo of the teacher education reform in the world and comes to a conclusion that the core and important aim ofteacher education reform in the world is teacher professionalism. Then it summarizes the effort made to achieve teacher professionalism in American teacher education reform.In the last part, the author considers American teacher education reform has gained some achievement in certain aspect in the process of teacher professionalism, which can be an example and reference for China' s Teacher Education reform. Besides, the author gives some suggestions to China' s teacher education reform.In the view of the author, teacher professionalism is a continuously exploring process with a single aim though promotes teacher' s professional character to promote the social status of teachers. Teacher professionalism is a systematic enterprise, which calls for the support from society, government apart from teacher education reform.