Describes a cross-cultural study of quality of teaching life among secondary school teachers by an international consortium of university research teams. Discusses the study's rationale; objectives; major concepts of job satisfaction, work centrality, and occupational stress; questionnaire development; and sampling techniques. Contains 55…

Assesses the effects of external constraints on teachers and the types of adaptation strategies they utilize. Interviews teachers in western Canada and finds they experience high stress from external constraints. Observes that teachers' coping options did not compromise their teaching but fed feelings of powerlessness in efforts to improve school…

This study of 92 special educators and related service providers evaluated two interventions (a series of stress management workshops and a peer-collaboration program) on factors correlated with turnover (burnout, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment). The interventions showed promise as a means of providing on-the-job support for…

Profiles the Student Teacher Showcase, an end-of-semester celebration that represents students' transformation into professional teachers. The rite of passage includes brief reflective commentaries, oral testimony, and an exchange of gifts. Discusses the implications for outcome-based evaluation of art education student teacher programs. (MJP)

Preservice teachers get their first teaching position hoping to take the first step toward becoming professional educators and expecting support from experienced colleagues and administrators, who often serve as their mentors. In this article, the authors present the story of Kristine (a pseudonym), who works at a middle school in a large U.S.…

As a part of the teacher licensure program at the graduate level at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC), the M.Ed. Licensure candidate is required to complete an action research project during a 3-semester-hour course that coincides with the 9-semester-hour student teaching experience. This course, Education 590 Culminating…

This document describes studies and other evidence supporting year-round education (YRE) in elementary and secondary schools. Included are six newspaper and journal clippings describing the benefits of YRE schools. The document also quotes from test and survey results that indicate that students who are enrolled in YRE programs learn and retain…

This book offers teachers and group leaders over 100 activities, cartoons, and quotations to enhance children's self-concept. The activities are divided into seven section: (1) Getting Started; (2) My Strengths; (3) Who Am I?; (4) Accepting My Body; (5) Where Am I Going?; (6) The Language of Self; and (7) Relationships with Others. Part one offers…

This paper presents findings of a study that examined the effect of school restructuring on teacher "plateauing" and teacher resiliency. "Plateauing" occurs when an individual perceives his or her situation as stagnant and devoid of challenge. Data were gathered through: (1) observations of a school district undergoing restructuring under the…

This publication is intended to serve as an ongoing source of teaching fundamentals benefiting aspiring teachers as well as those who periodically feel something is missing from their day-to-day teaching. It also acts as an aid to teachers in order to improve their skills, jobs, and lives. The text suggests student-centered teaching methods and is…

A study examined untenured faculty at the University of Massachusetts (Amherst) to determine their job satisfaction and work stress, changes in these areas over time, and ways the university could enrich their job experience. Two cohorts were studied via questionnaires. The first cohort comprised first-year faculty (N=23) and the second comprised…

The new political dispensation and socio-economic transformation in South Africa do not, unfortunately, guarantee jobs for those who wish to enter the labour market after school. Indications are that only between 5-7% of successful Grade 12 candidates in the country find employment in the formal sector. The problem of unemployment and ways to…

Most school administrations rely on one of two main forms of social control to ensure teacher conformity with organizational goals. The first, feedback and socialization, depends on teachers' attitudinal and behavioral conformity, commitment, and personal involvement in maintaining high standards. The second, programming and sanctions, depends on…

This paper reviews the literature on effective schools from the rural teacher's viewpoint. While research on rural education has frequently focused on economic and structural issues, the teacher is the key to the quality of rural education. However, rural teachers encounter more stressful teaching conditions than urban or suburban teachers,…

This executive summary describes a study conducted to determine whether different kinds of employer-supported child care services had differing effects on service users. Turnover and attendance data on 891 randomly selected female employees were gathered from 39 companies and hospitals offering on-site or off-site child care, information and…