Personal interviews were conducted with 138 elementary education majors at the completion of one of the two required foundation courses which include an early field experience in the teacher education program at the University of Utah. Questions asked concerned the students' perceptions of (a) the role of the elementary school classroom teacher, (b) their feelings of adequacy in performing that role, and (c) the value of their university courses in helping them prepare for that role. In general, it was found that students perceived the role realistically in terms of what they observed, had serious concerns regarding their ability to function adequately in the role as they saw it, and placed greater faith in experience than in the college classroom for gaining the competencies necessary for alleviating these concerns. (Author/PB)