The impossible role of teacher educators in a changing world

The thesis of this article is that the external demands placed on teacher e ducation at the present time, combined with inherent professional needs of teachers and student teachers, create a nearly impossible situation for tea cher educators. The article starts with a brief analysis of some of the ext ernal demands and constraints on teacher education: globalization, professi onalization, and the call of many experts to teach for understanding. These external demands are exacerbated by teachers' needs for certainty and cont rol, and the frequent gaps between teachers' professional self-images and t he demands oft heir teaching contexts also contribute to the complexities o f the role of teacher educators. The article concludes with a discussion of the societal implications of the current situation.