Abstract
The paper explains that administrators within the school system, primarily principals, have the responsibility for management of all the evaluation programs of a school. It explains that one of the most compelling reasons for a principal to be a good evaluator is to be able to determine the effectiveness of the school's teaching staff. The paper presents arguments in favor of teacher evaluations, in order to evaluate teacher quality and positive performance through linked pay increases. The paper presents arguments against teacher evaluations in order to evaluate drawbacks to linking pay increases to positive teacher evaluations, to assess expensive administrative and personnel costs, to reduce the potential for bias in the evaluation system and to prevent using teachers as scapegoats for America's education crisis. The writer suggests alternate methods of teacher evaluation. In conclusion, the writer states that some people are in support of teacher evaluation and some against it, but that it is important to remember that the goal is to ensure that children grow up to be educated and productive members of society.

Table of Contents:
Arguments in Favor of Teacher Evaluations
Arguments Against Teacher Evaluations
Alternate Methods of Teacher Evaluation
Conclusion
References

From the Paper
"Expensive Administrative and Personnel Costs. Another drawback of the use of teacher evaluations is the cost to the school district, in terms of both time and money. In order for the evaluations to be accurate and useful, they must be designed for a teacher's specific grade level and subject matter. Because the administration must design different criteria for education level, experience level, and subject matter of each teacher, the costs for designing these systems of evaluation can be expensive. Some states offer standardized written assessment tests, but assessment tests also have their limits. Just because a teacher can regurgitate information about a certain subject, they may still not be an effective teacher."

Tags:principal, staff, school, personnel, costs

Abstract
This paper shows how a teacher's philosophy of education can determine if a learning experience and environment is successful. Flexibility is considered among the most important qualities of a good teacher, and should be applied to the many different scenarios that occur in the classroom. The paper also considers the role of the school administration in creating a positive educational environment. This can be seen in the allocation of resources and materials. Additionally, the paper points out that the teacher must be aware of the factor that determine a student's level of engagement, such as home and peer issues. The paper concludes by stating that the educational environment works much like a machine, with all parts relying on one another to facilitate the process of student learning.

Outline:
Introduction
The Role in this Philosophy
Conclusion

From the Paper
"A school is operated much like a business, with some form of superior executive hierarchy and a variety of administrative and support roles which are inter-dependent on one another to facilitate student learning and the exchange of classroom knowledge. With this in mind, a professional educator with the right philosophy will view the children as stakeholders, whereby their personal assessments of the curriculum and teacher competence will likely impact learning and long-term retention of course materials. One recent study in middle school social studies courses identified that many social studies teachers, in this age category, are out of touch with the newest and latest themes and concepts in social learning."

Tags:professional development, achievement, school administration

Abstract
The author points out that good leadership has many of the same qualities as a good teacher or counselor. Personal traits and relationship factors are considered as significant as technical prowess. A number of required leadership traits are listed.

Table of Contents
Personal Factors
Leadership Traits and Styles
Sex and Gender
Emergent leaders and Social Influence
The Leadership Process

From the Paper
"An important factor associated with a good leader, which is also counted as the participative point in effective leadership, is having a sense of humor, which helps both the leader and his team to get through rough spots in their work together and achieve a healthy perspective on their work. Such a personal traits and relationship factor is considered as significant as technical prowess in leadership. "

Tags:Relationships, supervisor, humor, team, innovative, communications, vision, coordinate, self-motivation, motivate, gender, workgroups

Abstract
This paper expresses the opinion that immigrant children, even those of undocumented immigrants, deserve a good education and that teachers have an ethical requirement to teach them well.

From the Paper
"I believe that schools have a responsibility to provide the same services to children of immigrants, including undocumented immigrants, that they provide to other students. This is an issue of ethics in my opinion, not a matter of economics. I agree with Manka M. Varghese and Tom Stritikus who assert; "I am a bilingual teacher because I believe in bilingual education. I believe everybody has the right to speak their own language and I believe that if America is a free country then nobody...""

Tags:immigration, education, immigrant, children, opinion, teacher

Abstract
The writer explains the basic premise of essentialism in schools and discusses Aristotle's concept of the 'practical argument'. The writer relates that students learn best in an environment that they are comfortable with, curriculum in any school should be varied and a good teacher has to be an instructor but with the qualities of kindness, compassion and good listening skills. The writer also looks at Plato's treatment of the idea of education and essentialism. Finally, the writer points out that many teachers' difficulties come from a lack of creative freedom and an inability to use the curriculum that they are required to work with in a way that will actually be beneficial to their students.

From the Paper
"Education is very important. Its purpose is to enlighten the minds of children and show them not only what they can learn, but how they can learn. To know how students learn and behave, a teacher has to understand the student's philosophy (Barrett, 2001). This set of ideas about the meaning of life and nature of reality gives the student his whole concept of the world and life itself. It is this philosophy that shapes who the student is, and also helps shape who the student will become (Barrett, 2001). Until a teacher knows about the philosophy of a particular student, learning can be more difficult.
"Philosophies can be dangerous things, however, and seriously interfere with the process of education. It has been pointed out that for every principle, there is an exception (Barrett, 2001). Principals, philosophies, and opinions are often what separates people from each other and makes them different. It is also what causes them to argue and fight. One purpose of education is to get around all of these different feelings and opinions and bring a group of students to one understanding about a subject (Barrett, 2001).
"Or, failing that, at least get them to see that there are other options than the one they have chosen. Education is the lifeblood of the world (Barrett, 2001). It is invaluable in showing young people how to survive in the world, and teaching them that there is more to things than meets the eye. It teaches them to respect themselves and others, and also shows them that there are often many different ways of solving the same issue."

Tags:curriculum, environment, teacher, Plato, Aristotle

Abstract
There is no nation that can grow beyond the quality of its education. A nation can only develop meaningfully and attain professionalism through a good teacher education program, which begins with the organization of teacher education and the resolving of its problems. The paper concerns itself with teacher education in Nigeria, comparing this nation's program with that of the United States. Emphasis is placed on the appointment of professional teachers, the curriculum of teacher education, and its expectations in both regions. The paper suggests ways that could lead both nations towards a good teacher education.

Introduction
The Concept of Education
Rationale for Teacher Education
Training a Teacher for Professional Growth
Teaching Practice as a Part of Teacher Education
Problems of Teacher Education in Nigeria
U.S Problems and Solutions
Recommendations
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Teacher education is a key aspect of the education process or training that deals with the process of acquiring skills in teaching profession (Lawal, 2003). Although teacher education is sometimes used interchangeably with teacher training, teacher education is far more than teacher training. Teacher education includes teaching students not only to teach within the four walls of the classroom, but how to base this teaching on sound theoretical knowledge. This knowledge helps teachers to guide their pupils' learning experiences, contribute to the growth and development of people who come into contact with them, and contribute to the development of society at large. Teacher education, whether formal or non-formal, consists of programmed activities and experiences developed by an institution responsible for preparing people to work as professional teachers."

Tags:teacher, pupil, pedagogic

Abstract
This paper explains that the music teacher is one of the few people in the teaching profession who is able to teach artistic expression and creativity to a whole group of students; the method in which the teacher prepares him or herself for this task makes him or her better at his or her job. The author points out that a common practice among the young singers is an attempt to 'create' clear and brilliant tone by pushing the voice rather instead than resorting to better breathing management to create the vocal sound by regulating the air flow. The paper relates that, with proper discipline and proper rehearsals, students of choral music can give choral music performances in an appreciable manner; the teacher also benefits from the independent and creative thinking of his or her students.

Table of Contents
Introduction
Adolescent Development and Vocal Production
Physiological, Mental and Emotional Processes
Stages of Female Voice Change
Stages of Male Voice Change
Knowledge of Adolescent Vocal Quality (9-12 Grades)
Adolescent and Choral Learning Environment
The Interaction of Choral Teacher with Students
Voice Classification in Senior High School
Integration of "Educational Standards" in the Choral Curriculum
Principles of Choral Pedagogy
Discipline and "Good Choral Habits"
Choral Techniques and Strategies
Rehearsal Procedures
Repertoire
Rehearsal and Concert Performance
Conclusion
The Role of Positive Choral Experience in Senior High School

From the Paper
"Most of the children can be taught of singing since it is considered to be a psychomotor skill. However, the children with physical impairments like thickened vocal cords are considered to be exceptions to this. The emotional portion of the teaching caters to the learning of intrinsic hearing that enables the children to hear 'on the inside' and acknowledge and tag that they hear. The motor part of the learning is associated with good pose, breathing and phonetic integration. The recent National Assessment of Educational Progress reveals that most of the children are not desirous of learning even singing a simple melody with exactness. The oral abuses in many children are noticed by the otolaryngologists, more particularly among the boys in their attempt to pushing down their voices with a view to sounding like man. Attempting to speak on cords gives rise to vocal abuse producing vocal nodules and an unhealthy voice. The boys and girls are required to be warned of the noisy and excessive screaming and resulting damage for the vocal cords. The music teachers are to be viewed as the oral teachers for singing as well as speaking."

Tags:impairments, male, female, rehearsal, quality

Abstract
The paper argues that closing the achievement gap that exists will take an equitable allocation of funds and a supply of high-quality teachers that are good role models for African-American students. The paper discusses how to ensure that our teachers are quality individuals who understand the process of teaching as well as the methods that are currently available. The paper further addresses the need for students to be motivated to learn, for there to be higher expectations from teachers and students and for there to be less negative stereotyping by teachers. The paper asserts that if these factors are addressed effectively, a change can be initiated.

From the Paper
"There are a number of factors to be researched concerning the achievement gap between African American and Caucasian students. These factors include such things as resource allocation and how it affects those that receive less as compared to those that receive additional resources, how low teacher expectations can be effecting results from students who realize that the expectations are low (or high), academic stereotyping and the subliminal effects it is having on students, and last, but certainly not least, teacher quality or lack thereof. The educational environment in which the students find themselves is also perceived as an important factor in the level of success for many students.
"There have been a number of studies conducted during the last several decades that present various reasons for the achievement gap between black and white students, and a large number of decisions have been made using the data as presented by those studies. In the past the common perception may have been that certain students, or groups of students may have been less likely to achieve success due to their membership in that group. Stereotyping to that degree might even be a harbinger for the lack of success. A 2007 study found that "stereotype threat effects occur when members of a stigmatized group perform poorly on a task because they fear confirming a negative stereotype that is associated with their ingroup" (Spencer & Castano, 2007, p. 419). If members of a group feel that they are being looked down upon or castigated for being a part of that group, they may be acting out in the specific manner for which they are being looked down upon in the first place."

Tags:stereotyping, teachers, collaboration, motivation, role, models

Abstract
This paper recognizes that standards based education is a good objective because it will remove ultimately the difference in quality of education in different social levels due to facilities available and capacities of schools; however, the question is whether this is being achieved. The author points out that the correctness of this assumption that these standards enable the public to know how well the schools are performing is being questioned by legislators and the public. The paper relates that the standards form a very narrow path for education often removing the link between the students daily lives and what they are taught.

From the Paper
"Thus, apart from the direct evaluation of the students, which itself causes a lot of tension and stress on the students, they also lead to tension and stress on the teachers and probably all others connected with the school. This sort of tension for the teachers and others who are connected would probably have happened anyhow, as no educational authority can survive without extraneous funding and initial funds for starting the organization. At the same time, the person who is to be worried about is visible and the reactions can be directly assessed whereas the reactions of a government depend on a number of factors not connected to teachers and education. It is important that this part of tension is eased off and some type of an assurance is given to schools regarding their future funding, which is the biggest help they get, along with their recognition."

Tags:social-levels, teachers, graduation-rates, ethnic, kentucky

Abstract
This paper explains that two key problems in the education of teachers today are (1) budgetary restraints, universities are encouraging research, which is financed by industry, rather than the preparation of classroom teachers and (2) university professors are not keeping up with the very rapidly expanding knowledge in their fields. The author reviews programs to encourage current classroom teachers to improve their teaching skills. The paper examines the use of mentoring systems and merit pay to attract and to encourage the retention of high-ability women and men to teaching.

Table of Contents
Are Universities Not Interested in Producing Enough Teachers?
Quality of Teachers as They are
Rapid Shifts of Teachers at Lower Levels
Is Mentoring Good to Retain Teachers?
Or, is it Money?
Men vs. Women
Teaching Methods

From the Paper
"The final point that one has to talk about the present views on teaching itself and its requirements in today's world and how it has changed over time. This has been determined by some observers through identification by seeing the classes which are reputed to be of high quality and thus identifying the important factors. It has been seen that students have to be involved in important ideas and concepts, and that is even for science and mathematics. The mode of teaching strategy was not very relevant, but what mattered was the interest of the student in the matter that was being taught. This is generally increased through demonstrations and investigation. There has to be some collaboration among the students and that increases investigation among them. The total contents of the course have to be maintained in a very strict manner and the students given to understand that this is only a small part of a much wider body of knowledge."

Tags:interest, university, innovations, budgetary, men