The little ed school that could

Enthralling lecture 
(Photo by Robert S. Donovan 19)

While traditional ed schools continue to defy efforts at reform and transparency, other innovative teacher-training programs are moving forward. Enter New York-based Relay School of Education as a prime specimen. There are no university campuses or lecture halls for Relay’s students, who spend most of their training in their own classrooms under the guidance of mentors. Degrees aren’t conferred based on GPA or class time. To complete Relay’s two-year program—which encompasses 60 “modules” connected to real-world issues, like pacing and discipline—just demonstrate that your students have made at least one year of academic progress in your chosen subject. A fantastic evolution—but not one that is universally welcomed. Status-quo defenders have already lamented Relay’s alleged de-professionalization of teaching. It’s hard to believe, though, that novice teachers will receive less professional preparation as active participants in real K-12 classrooms than they would get in a distant university setting, half-listening to yet another lecture on Paulo Freire.