As California has struggled through economic and policy shifts, the "Teaching and California's Future" initiative has worked to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the system of teacher development in the state and to provide policymakers with the data they seek to inform their decisions in strengthening schools. During the 2002-03…

This publication describes the new legal guidelines for teacher education and licensure in Ohio. The new standards ensure that only those teachers who can perform the work will do the work. The standards emphasize performance throughout the teacher's career. They strengthen Ohio's teacher preparation programs by requiring successful performance of…

This paper explores Hong Kong secondary teacher supply patterns related to teacher retention using data collected from 1991-99. Secondary teachers are classified into five categories by initial educational qualifications: registered Graduate Master (trained GM), who are university graduates with majors in a subject discipline; permitted Graduate…

This paper asserts that the growth and maintenance of failed urban school districts that have miseducated minority children in poverty for over 50 years is a predictable, explainable phenomenon. The essay suggests that the extensive resources funneled into these systems are used for increasing district bureaucracies rather than improving…

It is not uncommon for beginning teachers in Queensland (Australia) to be assigned their first teaching placement in a rural area. Many of these teachers stay there for the minimum time that they must, then seek to relocate to a coastal city. The literature and interviews with beginning rural teachers suggest that those who view the experience…

Describes a study of 192 first-year vocational agriculture teachers to determine their attitudes toward using the Future Farmers of America as an instructional technique. Sixteen conclusions from the analysis of data are listed. Seven recommendations for improvement of beginning vocational agriculture teachers are provided. (LRA)

To aid beginning New Mexico vocational agriculture teachers, the New Mexico State Department of Vocational Education initiated two activities: developing a first-year handbook to provide direction and guidance and making a visit to beginning teachers before the start of school. Beginning teachers indicated that both activities have been helpful.…

Presents the "Teaching Journal" as a component of the Teaching Apprenticeship in Expository Writing course offered by Ithaca College. The professor mentor and the teaching apprentice write independently about their weekly classroom observations, opinions, questions, and concerns. This process offers apprentices teaching experience and…

Presents data from an eight-year longitudinal study of the development of teachers' thinking about behavior, development, learning, and teaching. The case discussed illustrates thinking at Level five, "integrated constructivism," in which learning is problem solving and teaching is guiding thinking. Suggestions for encouraging continued…

Examines experiences of undergraduate students and newly hired beginning preschool teachers as they learn about teaching and working with young children through an early childhood education course. Suggests ways in which experienced or supervising teachers and directors can help new teachers. (BB)

The attached schools of national universities in Japan are comparable to U.S. laboratory schools. This article discusses the history of attached schools, their present condition, and restructuring the role of these schools to make them clinical schools, compatible with overall reform of clinical education for beginning teachers. (IAH)

One of the continuing problems for public education has been the absence of effective programs to support teachers during their induction into the profession. Describes an intervention program coordinated by mentor counselors and mentor teachers along with preliminary qualitative and quantitative findings. (JBJ)

To improve instruction, administrators and teachers in one New York school district have adapted portfolio assessment techniques for use in administrative evaluation of teachers. The paper describes the Portfolio Self-Assessment for Teachers, which accelerates the professional growth of novice teachers by creating a medium for guided reflection.…

A study of beginning elementary teachers' mathematics instruction practices sought to identify the main factors influencing those practices. For all seven teachers studied, the perceived needs and expectations of students affected planning, interactive thinking, and lesson evaluation. (GLR)

Describes the Teach for America teacher corps which places recent graduates of selective colleges in teaching positions at inner-city and rural schools plagued by shortages. The program, funded by high-profile benefactors, has participants make a two-year commitment. It has raised great controversy, particularly among educators who value rigorous…