Teaching is the essential profession, the one that makes all other professions possible.
More than ever before in our history, education will make the difference between those who will prosper in the new economy and those who will be left behind. Accordingly, what teachers know and are able to do is of critical importance to the nation, as is the task of preparing and supporting the career-long development of teachers' knowledge and skills. Yet, while we do not ask our doctors to perform surgery after just several weeks of clinical experience, we expect students to prepare to become teachers with only a few weeks of in-classroom training. While employees in high-performance industries have opportunities for professional growth and learning, many teachers do not receive the opportunities for continuous learning that they need to teach effectively. It is time we give teachers the education and support that they need to teach our children to the high standards that the challenges of the 21st century demand.