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Teacher preporation has really evolved from the colonial times drastically. For example in colonial America teacher education scarcely existed. A wide majority didn't even attend secondary schooling and they didn't really have any formal preporation. The training was basically reduced to a "monkey see monkey do" training because some teachers learned by serving master teachers. The biggest change in those times for teacher was in 1832 Reverend Samual Hall established a Normal School. This was a private school which provided elementary school graduates with formal training in teaching skills.
These schools back then only provideda two-year teacher training program which consisted of academic subjects as well as teaching methodology. Also there was also a rather unusual requirenment called the "Teaching Contract". This contract seemed to only apply for woman. Basically woman were not allowed to have a social life outside of the school house. This contract consists of no smoking, drinking, cleaning chores like a maid. But one thing that made a major difference in the Colonial era of teaching was the Tomorrows Teachers.
This program caused quite a bit a controversy because this ment that teachers needed higher level of learning to meet standards and to be certified. These programs were designed to make teachers better and to also have teaching strive towards a more professional status. Today's programs are more structured. There is a program now called Teach For America. Teach for America has been known to be a very challenging program. However it has enjoyed great success in recruting highly motivated and talented recruits which many of the volunteers become great teachers. I believe that another reason why the program is so successful is because it small in size so its easier to focus on the goal at hand. With the traditional and alternative teacher education approaches you can see how teaching has evolved to the benefit of the teacher s who really do work hard to acheive. As long as there is a school standing there will always be a teacher; and as long as there's a teacher there will always be a student even when the student is a teacher.