The Courage to Dismiss: An Act of Stewardship

Authors

Carole J. Kitamura, WashingtonFollow

Abstract

A good teacher is critical to the academic success of students. Although we might prefer to hold onto the myth that a student's socioeconomic status or home life is the primary reason for success or failure in school (Haycock, Jerald, & Huang, 2001, p. 3), "the most important factor affecting student learning is the teacher" (Wright, Horn, & Sanders, 1997, p. 63). Schmoker (2006) added: "The single greatest determinant of learning is not socioeconomic factors or funding levels. It is instruction" (p. 7). The truth of these simple statements about the importance of effective instruction from a quality teacher should not surprise anyone who has attended school, nor to those who have had a child pass through the system. Haycock (1998) noted that "parents have always known that it matters a lot which teachers their children get." She elaborated that those parents with the resources of time and skill utilize informal networks to determine who the best teachers are and use that knowledge to assure their children are placed with those teachers (p. 3).

Recommended Citation

Kitamura, Carole J. (2011) "The Courage to Dismiss: An Act of Stewardship," International Journal of Servant-Leadership: Vol. 7, Article 12.
DOI: 10.33972/ijsl.170
Available at: https://repository.gonzaga.edu/ijsl/vol7/iss1/12

Copyright Information

Copyright 2011 The Author(s). All rights reserved