By Eric Stevick
Herald Writer
ARLINGTON — As many as three dozen Arlington High School students will get a taste of teaching next fall, thanks to a new course offering.
The students, all considering careers in education, will take a class called "Careers in Education: Teaching Academy" that gives them a perspective of what it would be like to lead a class. The class, part of a Washington State Teachers Recruiting Future Teachers program, is eligible for college credit, depending on the college or university.
The high school students will fan out across the district with assignments at different schools, learning from teachers already entrenched on education’s front lines.
"I think I will get an idea of how our teachers feel when they stand in front of our class," said Diane Taylor, 17, a junior, whose mother is a teacher in the district.
"I want to be a high school English teacher, and this is an awesome opportunity to see what it is like," said Katie Wheeler, 17, a junior. "I think this will probably reinforce it."
Cheryl Allen, who has taught at Arlington High School for 15 years, was surprised by the number of students who have expressed an interest in pursuing a career in education. Allen was hoping 17 students would enroll in the new course, but she ended up with 37.
"I can’t believe how much it just blossomed," Allen said.
Allen was also pleased to learn about the students’ range of interests including careers in teaching English, history, foreign language, special education and English as a second language.
Besides general education classes at the high school, students will also observe teaching at different grade levels and eventually lead small lessons. The district hopes it gives the young prospective teachers a chance to discover if education is the career they want to pursue when they enter college.
"When they leave, they ought to know whether they want to teach or not," Allen said.
The opportunity to explore was successful at Monroe High School last year when it offered a "Careers in Education" course for the first time.
Some students weren’t too sure at the beginning, said principal Mike Weatherbie. But at the end of the year, all but one of the students planned to enroll in education courses in college, he said.
You can call Herald Writer Eric Stevick at 425-339-3446
or send e-mail to stevick@heraldnet.com.
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