The author's statement to the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions on the challenges faced by America's classroom teachers focuses on a few of the factors that lead to teacher frustration and burnout that higher pay, however well-intended, does not change. They include, but are not limited to, poor teacher preparation,…

In this article, Susan Moore Johnson calls for a balanced approach to improving teaching and learning, one that focuses on both teachers and the contexts in which they work. Drawing on over a decade of research on the experiences of new teachers, Johnson argues that focusing on the effectiveness of individuals while ignoring how their schools are…

In this paper, the authors call for an approach that, in recognizing the economic realities facing most institutions, attempts to put aside objections that funding is simply not available to support an expansion of the current tenure system. In calling for the changes in faculty working conditions, the authors recognize that change will…

A combination of destructive trends in higher education--shrinking state budgets, stagnant student aid, the growth of corporate-style management, the overuse and exploitation of contingent faculty, increasing workloads and attacks on academic freedom--is weakening the educational integrity and professionalism of American colleges and universities.…

Six suggestions for improving education in the country are offered. The case is made first that unless children's health care is improved, educational achievement among the poor will not improve. The second point is that poverty limits school achievement as well. Without work on these two issues, neither the nation nor the nation's schools will be…

Describes the events leading up to the conference resolution, provides the text of the resolution itself, explaining the purpose behind each of its statements, and urges teachers to promote the resolution by voting for it at the annual meeting of the Conference on College Composition and Communication in March of 1987. (SRT)

Whining about not being treated as professionals buys teachers little respect. Teaching is hard work, but confers some plush benefits, while discouraging voluntary self-improvement efforts. The notion that pay should be commensurate with work is a noble delusion. Nannies and mothers are also underpaid. (MLH)

Factors relating to teacher motivation and burnout include: (1) a chance for advancement; (2) a sense of achievement; (3) recognition for a job well done; and (4) responsibility for job performance. (JN)

A former English teacher who lectures part-time at several colleges (with miserable pay and no benefits, seniority, or security) was determined to free herself from teaching. In recovery, she has plunged into lucrative business writing and editing, has weaned herself from faculty meetings and "excessive" caring, and is now a high-paid corporate…

How can a writing program administrator (WPA) implement the "Statement of Principles and Standards for the Postsecondary Teaching of Writing," known as the Wyoming Resolution? Most administrators know that something like the resolution needs to be implemented, but they also know that the Statement lacks the wholehearted support of…

Being a professor today is not as attractive as it used to be because of the mediocre pay, the competition, and pressures. Attractions still associated with the professoriate are freedom of expression coupled with a degree of financial security. (JMF)

This article is adapted from a memorandum prepared by the head of an independent school for the education and compensation committees of the school's board of trustees. Presented in question-and-answer format, it reflects primarily a faculty point of view. (Author/SJL)

Most teachers are satisfied with most aspects of their jobs. Results from a number of national surveys on teacher satisfaction are presented. Specific aspects of job satisfaction discussed are salaries, status, working conditions, and employment outlook. (IAH)

This paper, one of the nine-booklet Teacher Quality Series, examines ten popular assumptions that underlie many new proposals to solve the problems of the teacher workforce. It is argued that many of these assumptions are unsupported by research on teaching. It is also suggested that the ability to attract, train and keep good teachers depends…

Discusses problems new teachers have with the teaching profession, including the low salaries, the adversary relationship between teachers and administrators, overly large classes, and too few instructional materials. (EL)