To many traditionalist teachers and students alike, the idea of having more than one professional in the classroom sounds a little, well, confusing. I've heard questions like, "who's in charge?" and "who's ultimately held responsible if problems arise?” These are valid questions, but the answer is surprisingly simple: everyone involved in the class. So, if there are 25 students and two teachers assigned to a class, then the 25 students are responsible to themselves and each other and both of the teachers are held equally accountable. The key word in that sentence is, "equally". For the co-teaching relationship to be successful both of the instructors must have joint, equal ownership and responsibility; much like an arranged marriage. For a marriage to work, both partners must respect and value the others strength and contribution. If one attempts to dominate the other, eventually, it will lead to resentment and conflict.
With respect, I understand the perspective of the teacher whose been held solely responsible for his classes/students their entire career. It is a big philosophical shift to move from "these are my kids" to "these are our kids". The I-me mentality is a difficult to overcome; just as the "us, we" mentality is difficult to embrace. I freely admit that the shift from singularity to team takes time and commitment, but if we are to meet the demands of our students, it is a change that must be made.
