This book explores the power of narrative in understanding the complexities and contradictions of what it means to develop as a teacher. It argues that the development of a professional identity is inextricable from personal identity, suggesting that when teachers have the opportunity to compose their own stories of learning within a supportive…

This article discusses the status of the teaching profession, addressing such issues as entry into the profession, the job market, the image of teaching and teacher education, and reform efforts. The success of reforms will largely depend on whether teaching conditions, especially salaries, improve. (PP)

Classroom observation assignments for preservice teachers allow them to observe detailed relationships among classroom space and teacher student interaction. Through structured observation, preservice teachers become aware of classroom interactions in a vivid and instructive manner. (CJ)

Addresses issues in music education during the twentieth century. Focuses on the impact of the national standards, the working conditions and environment for music teachers, and the effects of educational policy making by politicians and the business community. States that a lesson learned is that arts educators cannot rely on outside group…

Research on teachers' work should be systematically included in teacher education curricula. Findings from international literature on teachers' work emphasize: characteristics of teachers' work, working conditions, and teaching as coping and adapting. New teachers need an active role in their own socialization. Teacher educators should include…

Surveys New Hampshire faculty regarding their perceptions of the importance of and satisfaction with faculty development activities specific to pedagogy. Findings suggest possibly low general faculty priority for pedagogy, greater interest in teaching improvement by younger and mid-career faculty, differing views from faculty and administrators,…

Explored classroom teaching challenges faced by African American faculty at a predominantly white college. Focus group interviews with black faculty indicated that the teachers believed white students felt their standards were too high and did not match white professors' expectations. They said that persistent student complaints and harassment…

Provides a conceptual basis and data strategy for developing and selecting staffing indicators, focusing on teachers and embracing other educator categories. Discusses policy relevance and state of the art. Presents three selection/development rationales: macro-level descriptions, system-level conditions affecting teachers' motivation, and the…

The purpose of this paper is to (1) describe the characteristics and governance structure of higher education at the Federal Universities in Nigeria, and (2) examine (a) how academic decisions are made, (b) the level of academic staff participation in university governance, and (c) the extent to which academic staff is consulted on key personnel…

In remarks to members of the NAS affiliate in California, Martin Trow reflects on goals and missions. The push for intellectual diversity does not resonate as did the message of equal opportunity that once drove the California Civil Rights Initiative. Our campaign at the national level to create new havens of serious scholarship is promising, he…

During the last few years, the development of seamless education systems to promote students' postsecondary success has been discussed by policymakers at the local, state and federal levels as well as reform-minded individuals. Florida, Washington, Iowa, Georgia and California either have statewide integrated systems or are moving quickly toward…

The Regis Career Education Program (RECEP) is an accelerated degree-granting program for adults at Regis College in Denver, Colorado. Since the program began in 1979, there has been a steady increase in enrollments and, consequently, a steady increase in the number of adjunct faculty. These adjunct faculty members are generally drawn from outside…

This study sought to determine: (1) preservice teachers' perceptions of teaching as a career, and (2) differences in perceptions among groups of preservice teachers categorized on the basis of a variety of background variables. Subjects of the study were 101 education majors enrolled in a college in the Southeast. The survey instrument included 71…

The papers in this volume were commissioned to provide information useful for planning, implementing, and assessing the impact of new teacher programs, such as the Illinois Initial Year of Teaching Program. These papers were presented at a conference held at the University of Chicago in September 1987 on the initial year of teaching to provide a…

This study examined the attitudes, beliefs, and concerns of second-year students in the University of Virginia teacher education program. One of the purposes of the second year course is to guide students in the process of making a career choice. "Teaching as a Profession" is the first professional course in the program. Students are involved in…