When I was in my education program as an undergraduate, every one of my fellow students had both terror and delight in imagining how to translate our education classes into actual teaching.
Even at this nascent stage, it was the desire to do right by the children or young adults entrusted to us that helped us overcome the terror and continually recommit to “doing better next time” in our student teaching.
Even seasoned teachers need to occasionally be students again, to hone skills and to put conceptual understanding into their everyday practice. It is for this reason that professional development is a crucial part of every teacher’s life.
I write in support of the recent proposal to have kindergarten teachers in the city of Lynn obtain an English as a Second Language (ESL) license over two years with this kind of introduction, because I have spent my professional life as a member of the Massachusetts Teachers Association working with educators who care deeply about the success of their students.
Rather than seeing this as a contentious issue, I view the superintendent’s proposal as charting a direction for professional development that is responsive to the city’s needs and as a tangible step that kindergarten teachers can take towards equity and closing achievement gaps.
I am certain that every kindergarten teacher in Lynn, if asked the question, “If I could give you training that would to a much greater degree assure the success of your students in 10 years, would you take that training?” would respond, “Certainly, and with pleasure!”
This proposal is about teaching kindergarten teachers the tools that they need to teach a population that might have been in the minority when they started teaching 20-plus years ago (and I obtained my license in 1997, so I know the curricular emphasis back then) but which is now clearly in the majority.
With a 77 percent English as an additional language rate, the city must take steps to address this issue.
Lynn needs this proposal, but more than this specific proposal, it needs to listen to teachers with reservations and reassure them that those eager young faces that they look forward to every day and that they are so excited to finally see in person, will be better served by the training they are now going to receive.
Like those education classes teachers took way back in their undergraduate days, the two-year program will teach the concepts, theories, and strategies that their inherent skill and expertise can easily translate into games, activities, and classroom practices.
The best professional development does this, and targeted professional development around language justice in the city is a tangible step towards equity. The students of Lynn and their families deserve this proposal.
Tiffany Magnolia is a Lynn resident who is running for election to the Lynn School Committee.
