Teacher Educators as Mettlesome Mermaids: On Collaborating to Reinvent Teacher Education in a Technocratic Society, 3(12)

Abstract

In this examination of collaboration in teacher education, I characterize teacher educators as "mermaids, " people who not readily fit into the norms of academe yet act on the conviction that they have a place in postsecondary education. I argue that they must pull together with others who share a commitment to teacher education to act as "mettlesome mermaids" in the current context of economic rationalism if they are to redefine what they do in ways that benefit all students. I describe the political context as leading to the penetration of corporate interests into higher education, heightened competition and reduced funding levels, accompanied by increased regulation and intrusion into the practice and autonomy of professionals. I suggest that within this political context-a context in which collaboration has been foregrounded-teacher educators need to act with caution. The challenge they face of finding ways to reconstitute their work to benefit all students requires them both to work with others and grapple with deep-rooted problems associated with collaboration. I contend they must stand against the prevailing conditions of a technocratic society, showing their mettle by focusing collaboration on challenges such as preparing teachers to teach in a culturally diverse world and recruiting into teaching representatives of minority ethnic groups.