A multiple-method study of junior high school teachers' beliefs and classroom behavior focused on teachers' perceptions of teaching tasks and processes, on how their beliefs and behavior are shaped, and on constraints by outside influences. These influences, which make up the context of teaching, include organizational and community influences on…

This paper reviews the literature on effective schools from the rural teacher's viewpoint. While research on rural education has frequently focused on economic and structural issues, the teacher is the key to the quality of rural education. However, rural teachers encounter more stressful teaching conditions than urban or suburban teachers,…

This paper discusses some of the issues behind the current debate on merit pay for teachers. A brief history is presented of performance-based compensation systems. The difficulties in arriving at a consensus on a valid definition of merit pay are pointed out, and examples are presented of various merit plans, such as master teaching plans, career…

Studies on the effects of student-faculty interaction and connections between student-faculty interaction and institutional characteristics, college administration, and academic instruction are reviewed. Attention is directed to research investigating the correlations between student-faculty interaction and student development, student…

Written to shed light on the unique recruitment and retention problems faced by rural and small school districts, this booklet also presents strategies to address these problems. Among problems noted in the opening overview are that recruiting and retaining good teachers in rural and small schools is complicated by inadequate pay which does not…

Recommends the frame of reference method in helping students learn to recognize bias in the questions an author asks, the evidence gathered, and the conclusions drawn. Describes a high school writing-anthropology unit on the Kung San society. Discusses the potentials, problems, and school-linked constraints in using frame of reference models. (IW)

Regular and special education teachers were compared to determine the extent of stress and burnout within these groups, environmental factors that were involved, and teachers' and administrators' views on feasible ways to reduce stress. A sample of regular and special education teachers in Utah (n=606) responded to 3 survey instruments: (1) the…

Based primarily on data collected on a sample of nearly 700 public school teachers, a study critically examined several key issues in the field of teacher burnout, coming to the conclusions that: (1) Teacher stress and teacher burnout are distinct and separate concepts; (2) The problem of teacher burnout has reached serious proportions; (3)…

This presentation discusses strategies upon which to base teacher incentives, and also assumptions within these strategies. The first strategy, influencing teacher turnover rates so that good teachers remain in the profession longer and poor teachers leave teaching sooner, includes consideration of occupational rewards, career structure, benefits,…

Redefinition of the student role and teaching conditions that may be necessary to create such a role are discussed. The author integrates the ideas in three papers: (1) "Understanding Intelligence: What's in It for Educators?" (Robert Sternberg and Richard Wagner); (2) "Academic Work" (Walter Doyle); and (3) "Motivating…

This presentation provides an overview of research on classroom management, emphasizing results from a program of research conducted at the Research and Development Center for Teacher Education (University of Texas) during the last 5 years. These studies, along with others, provide a basis for describing important dimensions of teacher behavior…

This manuscript, divided into four sections, was prepared specifically to assist the beginning teacher. A transcript of a video tape entitled "Bridging the Gap" focuses on the expectations and anxieties of the beginning teacher and presents suggestions for success during the first year. A list of focus questions for discussion accompanies the…

Presents an overview of uncertainties and challenges facing academics in the late 1990s. Discusses postmodern attacks on conventional assumptions about knowledge, decline of academic disciplines, increasing demand for vocational relevance, new modes of virtual pedagogies, diversification of education and training, transition to mass higher…

Draws on material produced as part of a Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) review of teaching and learning in geography. Reviews recent literature in an attempt to assess the implications of recent changes in higher education for field studies in geography. Includes three charts, lists, and graphs. (MJP)

This paper summarizes research on both organizational and individual characteristics positively correlated to teacher stress. Organizational characteristics are time constraints, workload, job demands, role conflict, role ambiguity, income, resources, class size, administrative bureaucracy, autonomy/participation in decision making, collegiality,…