Our View

Some people may think education majors have it easy. Think again. The classroom activities may seem a bit silly – drawing life-size skeletons, coloring, playing tag-esque games outside – but it’s preparing them to educate our children and grandchildren. Sometimes, the best way to learn how to teach children is to understand what the classroom is like.

Education majors need to understand problems that may arise in the classroom: cheating, bullies and children with different learning styles. There are many serious issues they’re trained to deal with: children with learning disabilities, gender biases and unconscious prejudices.

They double major in liberal arts and education, and they also have to minor in their teaching emphasis. They have 10 education classes to take and of those ten, four require teaching lessons to children. All of this prepares them for what’s to come in their own classrooms.

Education majors also do a portfolio to meet 11 different competencies. For each competency, two sections – knowledge and performance – must be completed.

Yes, they do color and read children’s books. And yes, they do elementary science projects. But all the while, they’re doing serious learning. They’re preparing for one of the toughest jobs out there. So instead of teasing them for their coursework, respect them for selflessly taking on a difficult job.