TO ASCERTAIN THE PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION AND COMPETENCE OF JUNIOR COLLEGE ENGLISH TEACHERS, ANALYZE THE NUMBER AND NATURE OF ENGLISH COURSES BEING OFFERED, AND DETERMINE WHAT CONSTITUTES A TYPICAL ASSIGNMENT FOR BEGINNING TEACHERS, A QUESTIONNAIRE WAS SENT TO THE DEANS OF INSTRUCTION AT 71 CALIFORNIA PUBLIC JUNIOR COLLEGES. THE DATA PRESENTED ARE BASED ON 54 RETURNS. THESE RETURNS INDICATE THAT 785 JUNIOR COLLEGE TEACHERS WERE ASSIGNED TO ONE OR MORE ENGLISH COURSES IN JANUARY 1964. GENERALLY, THE DATA REFLECT THAT THE PRESENT BACKGROUND AND TRAINING OF THE TEACHERS OF ENGLISH ARE INADEQUATE AND THAT A GREAT DIVERSITY OF PRACTICES AND POLICIES IN TEACHING CREATES CONFUSION AND IMPEDES PROGRESS. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT, IN ADDITION TO HOLDING A MASTER'S DEGREE, THE JUNIOR COLLEGE ENGLISH TEACHER SHOULD BE KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE JUNIOR COLLEGE AND THE JUNIOR COLLEGE STUDENT. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING WORKING CONDITIONS AND FOR CONTINUING THE EDUCATION OF TEACHERS ARE INCLUDED. INFORMATION ON TEACHER TRAINING, NUMBER AND TYPE OF COURSES TAUGHT, AND BEGINNING ASSIGNMENTS IS ALSO GIVEN. (HS)