As the education of pupils may be better in a school staffed with permanent career teachers rather than with itinerant teachers, every attempt should be made to increase the status of teaching and consequently the likelihood of attracting and retaining better teachers. Several steps could be taken to raise teaching to the level of other professions: reduce the number of teachers (as in differentiated staff), raise the levels of training and competence (which should be demonstrated) required to enter and advance in the profession, increase salaries, develop a hierarchy of teaching positions (as in college), and provide working conditions in which the teacher has control over his practice and has time to plan lessons and continue inservice training. Yet there is not adequate reliable information about teacher dropouts. Certain generalizations are known about professional differences for men and women, between the United States and foreign countries, and among elementary, secondary, and college levels; but a longitudinal study of at least 20 years is needed to follow the progress of those who begin teaching. (LP)