By Trevor Havard, College of Education intern
PULLMAN, Wash. – The first thing that strikes you is the simplicity of the title: “Becoming a Teacher.” The straightforward approach Forrest Parkay uses may explain why his textbook, appearing in its 10th edition, is widely used in colleges and universities across the world, including in languages like Mandarin and Indonesian.
The book’s milestone also marks one for Parkay: the educational leadership professor in the Washington State University College of Education will retire at the end of the semester.
“I believe that teaching is the world’s most important profession, so it has been immensely satisfying to have spent a career helping to prepare teachers and school leaders,” said Parkay, who taught at the University of Florida for eight years and at Texas State University for five years before coming to WSU. “Since ‘Becoming a Teacher’ is used by nearly 100 colleges and universities in the U.S., I know that I have reached students far beyond the three universities with which I have been affiliated.”
For the first time, the book is available as an eText and features dozens of interactive videos.
The new edition also puts added focus on teacher quality and provides students with a greater understanding of key areas such as teacher leadership, political activism, teacher diversity and cultural competence, and social justice and democracy.
The text dives head-first into the challenges future teachers face, helping them make difficult decisions by providing information and fostering awareness of the sometimes-harsh realities of today’s profession.
“The book provides students with the tools to answer the questions: Do I want to teach, and what does it take to succeed as a teacher today,” Parkay said.