This study compared teachers' assumptions about students and effective teaching practices in low and high poverty schools. Attitudes, beliefs, perceptions and classroom practices of 476 teachers in 24 urban and suburban elementary schools throughout the United States were assessed with teacher questionnaires and classroom observations during a…

A two-week exchange lectureship at the Russian Diplomatic Academy in Moscow is described by the American exchange professor. The focus of the lectureship was the vital role which public education has played historically in shaping the United States. The lectures were designed around three main themes in American education: historic purposes…

Working conditions play an important role in a school's ability to attract, develop, and retain effective teachers. Data presented here describe a number of aspects of teachers' working conditions, including workload, compensation, school and district support for teachers' professional development, school decision making, school safety, student…

Job satisfaction and its components were investigated among 156 teachers in 15 of the smallest school districts in the Texas panhandle. The districts were randomly selected from all panhandle districts having an average daily attendance of 200 students or less. Respondents completed a 28-item modified version of the Community Attitudes Toward…

The relationship between class size and scholastic outcomes is addressed in this paper. A literature review focuses on the research of Glass and Smith (1978) and Larkin and Keeves (1984). Contradictory and inconclusive research findings about teacher effectiveness in relation to class size indicate that emphasis should be placed on training…

This study investigated secondary teachers' perceptions of school organizational climate relative to their own professional growth and development attitudes. Instrumentation consisted of the "School Climate Profile," chosen for its range of determinants of school organizational climate in the secondary school, and a Likert scaling procedure to…

Project QUEST (Quarters for Utilizing Educational Services for Teachers) was developed in 1976 for the Frederick Douglass High School in Baltimore, Maryland. Its purposes were to strengthen staff abilities, enrich the school program, and improve the working and learning climates of the school, which were suffering from low staff morale. QUEST was…

After suggesting that excessive teacher absenteeism is a growing problem, this paper summarizes research studies investigating teacher absences and makes recommendations based on the findings. The studies correlated teacher absences with a number of variables, including contractual (salary, benefits, and leaves), procedural (absence policy),…

A simple metaphor about a dipper and a bucket and decades of research to show how even the briefest interactions affect relationships, productivity, health, and longevity, is used in this book. In the short time since the book's release, educators and administrators have already discovered that creating a positive environment can have a powerful…

Responding to questions regarding what research tells us about the importance of school size to student achievement, this report reviews recent research on the topic. It concludes that to the extent that small schools are better able than large schools to create forward planning conditions, then small schools appear to be a promising strategy. The…

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)

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)

Career intentions of 96 teachers of students with emotional and behavioral disorders were studied, and 36.5 percent planned to leave the field during the upcoming year, while 10.4 percent were unsure about career plans. Issues regarding the organizational structure of the school setting, rather than personal characteristics, were linked to the…

The article identifies morale deflaters and inflaters existing in the public school environment, describing the processes used to improve student and staff morale. Several instruments are available to help pinpoint the causes of low morale. The article explains how to use such instruments to change student and staff perceptions. (SM)

Examines World War II experiences of 75 New Zealand teachers who were then students, teacher trainees, or teachers, many in rural schools. Discusses the rise of progressive thinking and child-centered learning, children's attitudes toward war, rationing and war work in schools, impact of the men's departure, treatment of married and single women…