Seven commonly held myths concerning the effects of teachers' strikes on school districts are explored. Administrators from 124 school districts that experienced teacher strikes during the three-year period 1981-1984 responded to a questionnaire about the seven myths. The myths discussed include: (1) superintendents leave districts as a result of…

Surveyed Utah teachers, substitute teachers, substitute teacher managers, and principals to examine the perceived quality of substitute teachers, reasons for these perceptions, and potential effects of the perceptions. Substitute teaching was generally assumed to be low quality. Two perceptions driving this assumption were: low pay results in poor…

A case study of a school district illustrates how districts solve a substitute teacher shortage by reducing reliance on substitutes and extending full-time teachers' hours. The process allots overwork and work-family conflict to some workers and underemployment and multiple job holding to others. (Contains 38 references.) (SK)

This document gives information about maximum rate of pay for substitutes, adult education, extended day programs, and summer school programs, based on the Annual Survey of Certificated Salaries, Salary Schedules, and Salaries Paid Teachers for 1974-1975, conducted by the California Agency for Research in Education. This survey covered districts…

A national, randomized survey of 500 school districts revealed that availability of qualified substitute teachers is problematic and varies by region, district per-pupil expenditure, type of community, student enrollment, and associated full-time equivalent staffing ratio. Administrators believe this shortage jeopardizes regular teachers'…

Surveyed 58 replacement teachers (RTs) in Victoria, Australia, concerning (1) their qualification; (2) number of days worked; (3) membership in professional associations; (4) involvement in in-service programs; and (5) preferences for in-service activities. Found that RTs who obtain most of the work were not fully qualified and that RTs as a group…

In a survey of 35 teachers in a large elementary school, 91% of respondents believed a handbook would improve substitute teachers' effectiveness; 88% wanted substitutes to receive formal evaluation; 91% agreed that substitutes needed more training and should be informed of daily routines. Only 42% said substitutes met expectations. (10 references)…

The substitute teacher's public image was investigated by means of an informal survey of part-time and full-time teachers in Washington. Survey results revealed that working conditions appeared to be the largest factor in damaging the self-image of most substitute teachers. The majority of full-time teachers and administrators surveyed were…

Research suggests that the relief (substitute) teacher should be viewed as an extremely important educational resource. Reviewed literature spanning the better part of twenty years indicates that in parts of Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, many students spend as much as one full year (or more) of their K-12 education having…

The Chicago Panel on Public School Finances undertook this study to look at the financial aspects of teacher absences and substitute coverage. The study sought to discover: (1) the facts about teachers' absences and coverage by substitutes; (2) the financial costs of current policy and practice in this area; (3) the effects of current teacher…

The need to provide inservice training to substitute teachers was examined. The study surveyed a random sample of 278 teachers and 123 substitute teachers in Allen County, Ohio. The first part of the survey asked both groups about demographics. The second and third parts asked both groups whether teachers left complete lesson plans for…

This study examined the extent to which Ohio school districts had implemented several policy and procedure recommendations in order to address the problem of perennial substitute teacher shortage. Surveys of district superintendents, who had completed a questionnaire on substitute teacher policy and procedures 3 years before, examined: district…

A survey of superintendents from seven New Jersey counties revealed that most districts provided little training for substitutes or teachers using them, despite employing an average of 5,320 subs weekly. Teachers, substitutes, and students provided suggestions for improvement. Substitutes prefer schools with strong support systems. (MLH)

The development and validation of an instrument to assess the needs and concerns of elementary school substitutes are described. A literature review identified nine categories of needs for substitute teachers. A factor analysis of item responses for a sample of elementary school substitutes corroborated the existence of nine underlying factors.…

This study focused on three areas of supply teachers' (N=20) experiences: their background and views about the job; how they negotiated their first meetings with new classes; and their response to inappropriate behavior. The disadvantages of supply teaching cited by these teachers outweighed advantages cited by two to one. (IAH)