It's a Rap

When was the last time you heard the term “Journeyworker”, or for that matter, “Apprentice”, in conversation?

Likely never if you work in the field of education where the more familiar terms for teacher pathways are “student teaching”, “cooperating teacher”, “field experience”, “state certification” and “tenure”–usually, in that order. Yet the trades and technical fields use the terms “journeyworker” and “apprentice” ubiquitously to define the important and highly esteemed multi-yeared progression from unskilled novice to expert, qualified worker. It is a required rite of passage Apprentices take to earn the qualifications/certifications commensurate with high level work and well paying titles. My appreciation for the Apprenticeship model, starkly different from traditional teacher preparation, increased over a recent breakfast conversation with a newly-retired friend and tradesman.

Catching up over our second cup of coffee, the discussion turned to my current work around registering Apprenticeship programs for educators. My friend leaned in when I asked, “Dave, you’re familiar with the terms, Journeyworker and Apprentice, right?” With passion, Dave said, “Steve. That’s part of my job. I am a journeyworker, and I’ve guided Apprentices for decades. There is no better training model”.  I reciprocated this passion as I described the important and exciting work of the HUB team (of which I am a member). Our goal is to transform teacher preparation and the teaching profession into one that places a new and high value on the guided hands-on experience and application of college coursework in partnership with an experienced and successful teacher. A journey that lasts one or two full school years, immersing the candidate Apprentice in the school community and providing, through extended  time, the 360 degree view of teaching necessary for long term success.

Back to crosswords, I often run across an unfamiliar word or two in puzzles that I really should know. Journeyworker is one such term. Call it a gap in knowledge, but up until working with the NYS Educator Workforce Development Hub, I didn’t fully realize the value Apprenticeships could offer the field of education. Under the Registered Apprenticeship Program model, and for the first time, the value of the experienced teacher (Journeyworker) working shoulder to shoulder with a teacher candidate (Apprentice) all day, every day across the school year is finally recognized. Apprenticeships are a centuries old model, so I am puzzled, what’s taken us so long? Journeyworker is one word, and it fits!