Education is an area of concern for citizens in Missouri. More specifically, locally, early childhood education and poverty have remained red flag areas for years. Dr. David Hough, dean of the College of Education at Missouri State University, talks about the intersection of poverty and education. He also brings to light current trends and ways that the system can be reformed to give more individualized attention to the students who many not have as much – or any – support at home.
The skyrocketing levels of children who are living in poverty is causing institutions – like Missouri State – to consider how to better prepare teachers for the realities they may encounter. One way, Hough says, is to remove the traditional student-teacher label, and make them a co-teacher.
This shift away from the traditional student-teaching model doesn’t come without its challenges, though, noted Hough. And while Missouri State addresses what they can do to ensure success for the teachers they are preparing, this model requires a lot of effort from the master teachers as well.
