An Invitation To Support Diverse Students Through Teacher Education

Source: Journal of Teacher Education, Vol. 59, No. 3, 212-219, March- April (2008)

This article invites candidates for president to strengthen teaching and teacher education for diverse students. The article first describes two remarkable teachers in California to illustrate what strong teaching of diverse students looks like. It then discusses what the diverse students of this nation need of teachers, including teachers with high expectations for student learning regardless of students' current performance, teachers who can engage students academically by building on what they know and what interests them, teachers who can relate to their families and communities and read students in culturally accurate ways, and teachers who can envision diverse students as constructive participants in a multicultural democracy.

The article concludes by outlining three ways in which the president can support excellent teaching by recognizing the value of teacher professional development and by strengthening funding for teacher education in various areas.