This document contains 13 papers presented at a national forum on special education teacher satisfaction, retention, and attrition. The forum focused on results and implications of three studies: (1) the San Diego State University/American Institute for Research (California) study of variables related to the satisfaction, attrition, and retention…

Between now and 1990, the number of classroom teachers needed in the United States will rise, from 2,380,000 in 1984 to a projected all-time high of 2,640,000 in 1990. Supplying qualified teachers to fill that record number of positions may be difficult, however. Among the reasons that many more teachers may be needed are increased enrollment; a…

In an effort to explore significant supply and demand variables that affect the teacher labor market in the Southeast, a qualitative research study was undertaken to examine the market patterns of initial career choice, position availability, recruitment and selection, turnover, and mobility of public school teachers. An ethnographic investigation…

This book is about the work of teachers in American secondary schools. It addresses the character of teaching as a job, teachers as workers, and schools as workplaces. The book's objective is to reexamine the character of schools as organizations and the implications for those working within these organizations. It draws on research from the field…

Maintains that the tenure system has resulted in departments that are hierarchal, intellectually stagnant, and self- serving. Advocates reforming the current system by introducing merit evaluations and more flexible career paths. Refutes the basic arguments supporting tenure and recommends free market incentives as a cure-all for academic…

This study approaches the issue of quality in the teaching force using a microeconomic framework that applies the concept of "opportunity cost." As teaching is a low-paid profession, accepting a teaching position may be associated with high opportunity costs (foregone benefits) for more academically talented college students because they could…

This report, commissioned by Wisconsin's superintendent of public instruction, focuses on methods of attracting, preparing, and retaining competent and dedicated teachers in Wisconsin schools. Part I consists of recommendations to attract competent individuals to careers in teaching: informing the public about career opportunities in education and…

This study was conducted to examine the differences between teacher education graduates who entered teaching the year following graduation and those who did not. A career path model was developed and tested in order to examine the influence of various factors on the career paths of teacher education graduates at various stages. The model provided…

This document reports the results of a survey conducted to determine the employment status of the 1989-90 cohort of graduates from the Faculties of Education of the Province of Alberta. Also under investigation was the proportion of graduates who entered the teaching profession in Alberta immediately upon graduation. Recent projections of teacher…

This issue brief uses data from the 1987-88 and 1990-91 Schools and Staffing Survey to examine the various sources on which schools depend to meet the increasing demand for new hires to teaching. There are four sources of newly hired teachers: new college graduates, college graduates who pursued other activities before entering teaching (delayed…

A descriptive research study was conducted to determine those factors influencing people to select a career in agricultural education. Undergraduate students majoring in agricultural education at Virginia Tech and randomly chosen Virginia vocational agriculture teachers were surveyed by the use of a project-developed instrument. Among the findings…

Presents a series of questions those aspiring to teach music education at the university level should ask themselves. The questions cover a broad range of topics including academic reputation and job placement, importance of teaching experience, physical and emotional factors, and faculty recommendations. Each question is answered thoroughly. (MJP)

This paper describes an initial effort to provide a carefully reasoned, factually based, systematic analysis of teacher pay in comparison to pay in other occupations available to college-educated workers. It also reports on the sensitivity of these salary comparison estimates to differences in certain characteristics of the labor force, such as…

Methods of attracting, preparing, and retaining a solid cadre of dedicated, effective teachers in Wisconsin's schools are considered. Ideas and programs are offered for local school boards, the state legislature, teachers and administrators, and the general public. Specific recommendations are made on: (1) attracting competent individuals to…

Data for 1981-1981 on faculty salaries in California state colleges and universities are presented and interpreted. In addition to information on the University of California and the California State University and Colleges, salary data are also included for the California community colleges. Segmental salary requests and projections from the…