Current methods of funding teachers' retirement systems, which base pensions on final salaries, are inequitable because they are not related to school districts' ability to pay and because they require some teachers to subsidize others. A five-state survey shows it is common for pensions to be funded by school districts and teachers, sometimes…

This presentation deals with the concept of "profession" including the requirement of a code of ethics and the need to enforce it. Teaching as a profession is compared to medicine, law, and the ministry, and consideration is given to the following dilemmas posed in establishing the code and enforcing it: the professional vs. the unprofessional…

Presents a 14-point plan for reforming education by improving teacher incentives. Proposals include raising salaries and merit pay; developing summer employment assistance centers, a teacher placement program, and employee suggestion compensation; increasing teachers' participation in school policy; providing early retirement plans and tax…

Three critics comment on M. Elizabeth Wallace's October l984 "College English" article, "The Richness of Language and the Poverty of Part-Timers: Impact and Invisibility," and Wallace responds. (EL)

Teachers with physical disabilities may be just as good--and in some ways better--than teachers without them, as is demonstrated by this look at a well-qualified, highly motivated but unemployed early childhood educator with a hearing impairment. (PGD)

Granting unpaid leaves of absence to teachers who are at or near the top of the school district's teacher pay scale will save the district money. Such leaves benefit teachers by satisfying whatever needs inspired their requests, and offer students a new enthusiastic teacher in the classroom. (Author/MLF)

Discussed in this article are the respective shortcomings and advantages of tenure laws. A merit point system is suggested as an alternative whereby educators would be held accountable for what they do and at the same time would be afforded equitable job security. (Author/EB)

A revamping of the operation of the current academic labor market by drawing upon the system found in professional sports is suggested. To stimulate thought, it is proposed that rules governing free agency, professor reservation, first refusal, trading, and salary arbitration be applied to higher education to replace current, outdated procedures.…

Discusses the relationship between educational quality at Catholic schools and educational costs, and between consistency and effective schools. Describes steps to determine just teacher salaries/benefits, to elicit the support of the community, and to move to decisive action. (PAA)

Discusses the role of the sabbatical leave in the development, satisfaction, and productivity of faculty in postsecondary institutions. Concludes that faculty members benefit from and are satisfied with their sabbatical leave experiences. Also notes benefits to the home institution, including increased productivity, improved programs, strengthened…

Describes a later-entry first grade teacher at a rural school in Indiana, who has continued to teach despite a number of hurdles that would impede many educators. Demonstrates her commitment to the profession and to her school, a commitment which has continued to grow through each career stage. (RS)

Examines the Workers' Compensation system and teacher stress to determine if a burned-out teacher should be eligible for Workers' Compensation benefits. Concludes that although most states do not allow Workers' Compensation benefits to burned-out teachers, compensation should be granted because the injuries are real and work-related. (Contains 48…

Application packets for a community college teaching position should be simple, concise, and provide just enough information about the applicant to interest the screening committee. Since many colleges utilize an official application form, screening committees and personnel officers will probably review these forms for the candidate information.…

Predicated on the fact that the National Teacher Examination (NTE) is a sociocultural artifact, this paper emphasizes teacher education curricula as a basis for the NTE. The focus is on the social dynamics of the classroom, which is a complex set of interactions far richer than the particularistic bits of information tested by the NTE. Proponents…

The Commission on College Retirement was formed to review the role and functioning of college and university retirement programs and make recommendations for program improvements. This volume brings together five separate reports issued by the commission. "Retirement Ages for College and University Personnel" addresses the issues of…