Written by Jonathan Schaefer

Education in the 21st century is dramatically different than just 20 years ago, and the dynamics of teaching and classroom management, as well as home-school relationships, are increasingly complex. New challenges in these areas may discourage teachers, especially new teachers. In fact, over the past three decades, the number of new WELS teachers leaving the profession rose from 287 in the 1980s to 867 in the 2000s, excluding those who resigned because they got married or had children (Continuing Education for Called Workers Committee, 2012). Continue reading →

Written by John Meyer

In the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), 91.3% of the teachers (Nelson, et al., 1999) and 83% of the congregation members (Schmeling & Nelson, 2001) agree that continuing education for teachers is necessary (Nelson, et al., 1999). But 74% of WELS teachers list time and money as their greatest obstacles to professional growth (Schmeling & Nelson, 2001). Setting aside the issue of time for now, let’s talk about the money. Continue reading →

What year are you getting your students ready for? Are you getting them ready for when they graduate from college, or when you graduated? Was that the 80s when the soda (or pop) world tricked us with NEW Coke? Was that the 90s when grunge meant more than just a dirty man in the garage? Was that the turn of the millennium when Netscape and AOL changed the way we found information? Continue reading →

The word “professionalism” is overused and vague, and it is inadequate to describe Lutheran teachers who are also gospel ministers. Consider this example: A family business, which employed 20 people with differing tasks and skills, had a financially successful year. A formal celebratory gathering was in order. To heighten its significance, the naïve host suggested “professional dress” on the invitation. Imagine the embarrassment of host and guests alike when they arrived in every variety of attire, each of them thinking they were wearing “professional dress.” Continue reading →