Intended as a primer for those unfamiliar with teacher education, this monograph discusses general issues and problems related to the recruitment, education, and retention of high-quality educational personnel; the instructional needs of disadvantaged pupils; and basic issues and problems which have arisen specifically with reference to the…

Without governors' support, the emerging teaching reform agenda will go nowhere. States should eschew their "deja vu" attitudes and embrace quality of education as a major determinant of state and national economic survival. The governors' action agenda includes 10 recommendations addressing teacher education and standards, work…

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards has developed and made available sophisticated teaching assessments in nearly two dozen fields. This paper draws on an array of research evidence, and data gathering in four urban communities with large representations of National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs), to describe three major…

Presented are the results of a questionnaire completed by 467 teachers from 32 states who teach English at the elementary school, secondary school, and college or university level. The questionnaire elicited information concerning teacher morale, critical issues facing the profession, the mood of teachers, and teacher curriculum interests and…

This paper reviews the literature on effective schools from the rural teacher's viewpoint. While research on rural education has frequently focused on economic and structural issues, the teacher is the key to the quality of rural education. However, rural teachers encounter more stressful teaching conditions than urban or suburban teachers,…

Views concerning teaching and teacher education and the pursuit of excellence in education are expressed in a 1982 public hearing. Attention is directed to the following concerns: the nature of effective teaching, the preparation of an effective teacher, keeping the teacher effective, the responsibility for providing and sustaining excellence in…

This paper discusses some of the issues behind the current debate on merit pay for teachers. A brief history is presented of performance-based compensation systems. The difficulties in arriving at a consensus on a valid definition of merit pay are pointed out, and examples are presented of various merit plans, such as master teaching plans, career…

Factors related to teacher stress and the relationship between teacher stress and student achievement were investigated using a qualitative research approach. Regular education teachers (n=35) and special education teachers (n=28) of mildly handicapped elementary students were interviewed about their perceptions of general stress in teaching,…

Studies on the effects of student-faculty interaction and connections between student-faculty interaction and institutional characteristics, college administration, and academic instruction are reviewed. Attention is directed to research investigating the correlations between student-faculty interaction and student development, student…

This publication links the factors affecting the quality of the individual teacher to the broader set of conditions most likely to promote and sustain the quality of teaching generally. Chapter 1 provides a brief survey of some of the main currents in educational policy and practice of the past 25 years, including the cost of education and the way…

Based primarily on data collected on a sample of nearly 700 public school teachers, a study critically examined several key issues in the field of teacher burnout, coming to the conclusions that: (1) Teacher stress and teacher burnout are distinct and separate concepts; (2) The problem of teacher burnout has reached serious proportions; (3)…

Designed to examine the experiences of writing teachers and their students in the United States and the United Kingdom, a comparative study administered questionnaires to "successful" teachers and secondary school students and conducted observational studies in a small number of classrooms in both countries. The sample of 560 U.S.…

The development of a merit pay system in effect since 1953 in a suburban school district is discussed in light of district records and interviews with administrators and teachers. A key element of the system is a standing committee for evaluation of the program, consisting of the superintendent, teacher-elected representatives, and one…

This presentation provides an overview of research on classroom management, emphasizing results from a program of research conducted at the Research and Development Center for Teacher Education (University of Texas) during the last 5 years. These studies, along with others, provide a basis for describing important dimensions of teacher behavior…

This manuscript, divided into four sections, was prepared specifically to assist the beginning teacher. A transcript of a video tape entitled "Bridging the Gap" focuses on the expectations and anxieties of the beginning teacher and presents suggestions for success during the first year. A list of focus questions for discussion accompanies the…