Thursday, January 20, 2022

Journal Blog #2: The Quarterback Problem

We have been reading and discussing the roots of what makes an educations system succeed or fail. Gladwell argues that the teacher is the most crucial value-adding mechanism in a school. While all of the other factors are important (class sizes, family support, teacher-pay, and so on), the quality of teachers is the most crucial thing we must identify.

The problem is, according to Gladwell, that there is no way to identify a good teacher until he or she teaches.

He uses the analogy of the quarterback to make this point. It appears that most great quarterbacks in the college game fail in the professional game. On the other hand, more mediocre quarterbacks in college become stars in the pros. This makes the process of scouting quarterbacks an impossible task.

We have many talented students right now in universities, studying subjects and succeeding as students. Many of them will choose and train for the very honourable and important profession of teaching. However, many of them will land a place as a teacher in a school, and may find that they lose their vision and their spirit (as the Nation website reports).

In your view, and in your experience as students in your respective education systems, do you agree with Gladwell's argument? Do you see a quarterback problem in the education system from which you come?

Make your post by Sunday night. Respond to 2 classmates by before next class. Remember to include your ID# in your post. Aj. M