Ascertains what 59 male and 40 female Alberta teachers (average age 50) think about career changes, early and partial retirement. Indicates reasons for career change (personal challenge, additional salary, frustration) and lack of interest in partial retirement. Concludes options for career change should be investigated with younger age group.…

A study in 1987-92 assessed the effects of changes in life course on work and careers. Interviews with 150 individuals who remained active or continued to work beyond age 65 showed lifetimes differing greatly from the traditional model. The combination of longer lifetimes and postponement of old age has created a new stage in adult life, a second…

The beginning phases of a preretirement program at San Jose State University, California, are described. The program, initiated through the interdisciplinary gerontology program, entailed group discussions and individual followup and counseling when appropriate. Discussion topics were housing, legal matters, leisure and volunteer work, health, and…

Retirement plans of older participants of the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA-CREF) were surveyed. Questionnaires were mailed to a random sample of 2,260 participants aged 59-69, and 1,438 returns served as the base for data analysis. This group was 62 percent male and 38 percent female; 48 percent…

Reviews the concerns of the increasing number of teachers who are over 50: retirement decisions, retrospective career assessment, and societal and value changes. (JM)

School systems encountering declining enrollments also face an increasing proportion of senior faculty drawing high salaries. There are no hard data on demographics of the teaching professions or research which supports any relationship between age and quality of teaching. Crucial research questions remain which gerontologists could help answer.…