Argues that the best way to improve teachers' performance and morale is to provide more paid time for essential teaching tasks. Six suggestions are provided: reduce class size; provide clerical help; delegate responsibility; provide student assistants; seek help from parents; provide monthly (nonteaching) work days. (TE)

To improve instruction, teachers need to be brought together to work on common instructional concerns in a professional environment. To create it, supervisors need to provide more opportunities for teachers to make choices, discuss their work, observe each other, and help beginning teachers ease into their responsibilities. (Author/DCS)

Reports on teacher responses to a questionnaire that sought information related to teaching features such as syllabus, book selection, teaching/learning goals, preferred class activities, questions asked during discussion, methods of assessment and arrangements for remedial readers. (HOD)

Certain dissatisfactions emerged as a universal theme among 200 teachers observed and interviewed during a study of school environments. Teachers are charged with increased responsibility, while they suffer from a loss of authority. Reasons for the loss of authority and its effects on teacher morale are discussed. (PP)

The connections between class and gender must be recognized if attempts to rationalize and proletarianize teaching are to be understood. Behaviorally-specified curriculum, prepackaged programs, and repeated testing and accountability measures represent attempts by state governments and by male administrators to wrest control of instruction from a…

A questionnaire survey of 417 teachers in 15 New Jersey elementary schools examined the relationships among four types of objective isolation and three types of alienation, including feelings of self-estrangement and powerlessness. Results indicated limited school interaction, few informal influence structures, and high degrees of isolation and…

Conditions for effective professional practice do not exist widely, either financially or psychologically, for the teacher today. Schools where teachers study and practice must be improved for the benefit of teachers, parents, students, and the community. (CJ)

Examines educator drop out rates in Illinois and reveals that this problem is not as great as has been reported in the media. (FL)

Studies how teachers respond to environmental stress and whether certain personality traits are related to these response patterns. Concludes that generalized personality traits are indicative of teaching styles that emerge in response to anxiety-provoking environmental conditions. Tables included. (Author/JLF)

Reviews trends and problems associated with the employment of part-time community college faculty. Describes a survey of 405 deans, department chairs, and part-time instructors conducted to determine part-time teachers' needs in the areas of evaluation, philosophy, student relations, and instruction. Analyzes differences among respondent groups.…

A telephone survey of 93 Florida teachers who did not return to their special education teaching position after the 1992-93 year, found the largest portion of teachers who left did so because they were dissatisfied with conditions of work. In addition, the majority of leavers remained in education. (Author/CR)

Describes a contractually negotiated income/leisure substitution provision commonly used in Canada. The deferred-salary leave plan gives teachers greater control over their work lives by letting them set aside monies to underwrite future leaves of absence. The plan may help teachers alleviate job stress, offset increased demands of reform…

Assessed problems confronting beginning special education teachers, noting whether contextual factors facilitated or impeded their efforts to solve these problems. Teacher surveys indicated that the most common problems related to insufficient curricular material, handling student behavior, and obstacles in collaboration with general educators.…

Results are reported from a study which assessed the attitudes of 84 preservice secondary student teachers toward middle level teaching. Findings indicate that a significant number of these student teachers felt middle level teaching was less intellectually challenging but more difficult because of student behavior and discipline problems. (IAH)

The potential contribution of action research to professionalizing teaching is discussed and related to three types of collaboration which are distinguished by roles of participants, degree of institutional support, topics addressed, and type of focus. Also considered is the potential role of action research in encouraging reflective practice.…