Over the last decade, teaching assistants (TAs) have become an established part of everyday classroom life. TAs are often used by schools to help low-attaining pupils and those with special educational needs. Yet despite the huge rise in the number of TAs working in UK classrooms, very little is known about their impact on pupils. This key and…

This report by the Canadian Education Association identifies present trends and school board concerns in the use of auxiliary personnel. The information contained in this report was obtained through a questionnaire sent to 75 school boards in the summer of 1974. The first section deals with paid aides and presents school board policy on paid aides…

Results of a 1971 New York study concerned with the role and status of teacher aides indicates that, in many instances, paraprofessionals exceed the limits of nonprofessional duties and heavily invade the professional domain. A 1971 Oregon study established that paraprofessionals were more involved in instruction than were teachers, including…