Why Good Teachers Matter in Iraq
When you were in high school you were probably pretty concerned with your GPA or at least your grades in specific subjects that you were hoping to pursue in college. Maybe you got into your first choice university, or maybe you had to settle for something a little less prestigious. But your main focus was on keeping up your grades, doing well on your SAT or ACT, and maybe doing some extracurricular activities to round out your applications.
But what if your college placement and area of study were determined entirely by your score on a cumulative test that you take at the end of your high school career? Not only that, but your test scores are compared to every other graduating senior in the entire country, and if you score lower than a certain percentage of those students you may not get to pursue the college courses you would prefer. That would lead to pretty stressful high school years.
That is exactly what the students at the school we serve face as they enter high school. If you want to be a doctor or an engineer (most students’ ambition) you not only have to have excellent grades but you also have to pass a massive test at a much higher point placement than your peers. How they are taught and what they are taught has a huge impact on their possible future, and the future of their country. It’s very important for them to do well. They need good teachers who can understand and communicate the material to them in a memorable way.
Many of our students also plan to attend colleges “outside” – in Europe, the U.S. or other Middle Eastern countries. High school is a great time for them to prepare for those other learning systems. Our staff often teach critical thinking, good writing practices, logic, public speaking, and study skills to help carry them through new educational dynamics. We often hear from former students about how the skills they learned from our staff have helped them not only succeed in college but help others succeed as well.
And that – we think – is one of the key roles of our staff. They not only teach the materials they are given but also help the students see the world differently. Yes, college placement is highly competitive, but is it worth cheating to get placed where you want to be? Do you want to be an engineer because you understand the job or because you lied to get there? We try to teach the students to look beyond the “reward” of good placement and think through doing the work to understand what they are learning. We want them to think about the impact of their choices on the people around them too. How can they help a struggling classmate in a way that benefits them in the long run, not just through this test? Will they be able to be proud of the effort and ethics that helped them become successful?
Having good teachers starts before high school. That’s why we are happy to place teachers from 4th grade up. Students trained in good practices -both study and behavioral – from a young age have an easier time with those tough high school years. So maybe teaching a room of high schoolers feels intimidating to you. But 4th graders need good teachers too. Won’t you consider joining us as we train up super students and super citizens?
