ERIC Number: EJ842608
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0957-8234
EISSN: N/A
Teacher Attitudes about Classroom Conditions
Earthman, Glen I.; Lemasters, Linda K.
Journal of Educational Administration, v47 n3 p323-335 2009
Purpose: This research was designed to investigate the possible relationship between the attitudes, teachers have about the condition of their classrooms when the classrooms were independently assessed. Previous research reported teachers in unsatisfactory classrooms felt frustrated and neglected to such an extent that they sometimes reported they were willing to leave the teaching profession. This paper aims to address these issues. Design/methodology/approach: Eleven high schools in which the principals state the buildings are in unsatisfactory condition are identified and matched with 11 schools assessed as being in satisfactory condition. The My Classroom Appraisal Protocol[C] (MCAP) is used to gather impressions and attitudes of teachers. The MCAP is entered into the internet, and teachers in the selected schools are asked to voluntarily complete the instrument and submit it electronically. Findings: The differences between the responses of teachers in satisfactory buildings are significantly different than those of teachers in unsatisfactory buildings at the p less than 0.05 level of confidence. Similar results are obtained on the attitudinal scale of the MCAP, again at the p less than 0.05 level. Research limitations/implications: The size of the population is small, which limits applicability. Practical implications: These findings clearly indicate the physical environment influences attitudes of teachers, which in turn affects their productivity. Such effects could cause morale problems in the teaching staff. Originality/value: The findings indicate the condition of the classroom can cause morale problems with teachers. School authorities need to recognize the importance physical conditions have upon teachers so that negative feelings and attitudes do not pervade the faculty. Such feelings eventually may influence the achievement of students. (Contains 4 tables.)
Descriptors: Physical Environment, Teacher Attitudes, Classroom Environment, Teaching Conditions, School Buildings, High Schools, Teacher Persistence, Teacher Morale, Teacher Surveys, School Maintenance, Secondary School Teachers, Correlation
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A