Similar to many other countries, over the past decade Chile has developed policies increasing accountability over schools and teachers working with young children, yet little is known about the impact of these policies on teachers and teaching practices. This study contributes to the research on policy implementation by examining the interaction between accountability policies and institutional practices in kindergarten in the context of the Chilean school system. Specifically, this multiple-site case study explored the responses of kindergarten teachers and principals in different school contexts to policies driven by accountability principles. The study employs a critical approach mobilizing a blend of institutional theory and sense-making theory to examine schools’ macro and micro levels of policy implementation. The results indicate that according to teachers there is a disjunction between the traditional aims of early childhood education, and the objectives of current policies that emphasize results over processes. The teachers interviewed in this study felt that accountability policies largely increase control and surveillance over their teaching and privilege standardized performance measures over holistic child development. However, these policies do provide teachers some opportunities to improve their professional legitimacy in an educational context that usually isolates them. The study also reveals a large gap between teachers’ and principals’ knowledge of early childhood education and their views of the impact of accountability policies. One of the main implications of this study is that policy implementation should put in place supporting actions to help teachers implement accountability practices while acknowledging teachers’ expertise and fostering their agency.

本研究旨在探討學前教師工作壓力、工作滿意度對於幸福感之影響及三者之關係。首先，瞭解學前教師工作壓力、工作滿意度與幸福感之現況；其次分析不同個人背景變項在三者中之差異情形；第三，探究學前教師工作壓力、工作滿意度與幸福感三者之相關情形；第四，以二因子多變量變異數分析討論學前教師工作壓力與工作滿意度對幸福感之交互作用；最後，以多元迴歸方式，瞭解工作壓力、工作滿意度對幸福感之預測力。 本研究透過文獻探討以及問卷調查法來瞭解上述研究之目的，以「學前教師工作壓力問卷」、「學前教師工作滿意度問卷」與「教師主觀幸福感量表」為研究工具。以臺北市公、私立學前教師為研究母群體，有效樣本為231份，根據受試者之填達結果分別以平均數、標準差、t檢定、皮爾森積差相關、二因子多變量變異數分析以及多元迴歸來分析資料。本研究主要結論如下： 壹、臺北市學前教師工作壓力偏低，其中壓力感受以「工作特性」最大；且工作滿意度偏高，其中以「教學自主」最讓教師感到滿意；且具有中度幸福感，以「情緒幸福感」為主。 貳、公立學前教師較易感受到工作壓力，且以「工作特性」壓力感受最大。資淺教師較易於工作滿意度之「人際關係」中感到滿意。資深教師在「心理幸福感」比資淺教師更感到幸福。已婚教師對於工作滿意度之「獎勵制度」滿意度高於未婚教師。 参、臺北市學前教師工作壓力與工作滿意度及幸福感有顯著負相關；而工作滿意度則與幸福感有顯著正相關。 肆、臺北市學前教師工作壓力與工作滿意度對「整體幸福感」及「心理幸福感」有交互作用。 伍、臺北市學前教師工作壓力與工作滿意度各對幸福感及其三構面具有預測力。 最後，研究者根據上述之研究結果提出具體建議，以提供給幼稚園、學前教師以及後續研究者作為參考。 / The main purposes of this study were to:（a）understand the current situation of the kindergarten teachers’ job stress, job satisfaction and subjective well-being；（b）analyze the data of the kindergarten teachers’ job stress, job satisfaction and subjective well-being between different backgrounds；（c）explore the relationship between these three variables；（d）use MANOVA（Multivariate Analysis of Variance）to analyze the interaction of kindergarten teachers’ job stress and job satisfaction vs. subjective well-being；（e）finally, use Multiple Regression Analysis to explore the predictive power of the kindergarten teachers’ job stress and job satisfaction on subjective well-being. To accomplish these purposes, the methods adopted were a comprehensive literature review and a questionnaire. Three scales were used to measure the following constructs: “Job Stress Scale for Kindergarten Teachers”,“Job Satisfaction Scale for Kindergarten Teachers”,“Subjective Well-Being Scale for Kindergarten Teachers”.There were 231 valid cases from public and private kindergarten teachers participated in this survey in Taipei. The questionnaire data were analyzed by “Mean”, “Standard Deviation”, “T-test”, “Pearson Product-Moment Correlation”, “MANOVA”,“Multiple Regression Analysis”. The major results were summarized as follows: 1、 Kindergarten teachers have middle-low job stress；and have high job satisfaction , highest score appears in “teaching autonomy”；and have middle subjective well-being , highest score appears in “emotional well-being”. 2、 Public kindergarten teachers have high job stress, highest score appears in “job characteristics”. The junior teachers have job satisfaction in “interpersonal relationship”. The senior teachers have more “psychological well-being” than the junior teachers. The married teachers have more “reward system” than the single teacher. 3、 There is a negative correlation between kindergarten teachers’ job stress and job satisfaction in Taipei. There is a negative correlation between kindergarten teachers’ job stress and subjective well-being in Taipei. There is a positive correlation between kindergarten teachers’ job satisfaction and subjective well-being in Taipei. 4、 The kindergarten teachers’ job stress and job satisfaction vs. subjective well-being have interaction. 5、kindergarten teachers job stress and job satisfaction have predictive power. At last, to bring up some concrete suggestion according to the study outcomes as references for kindergarten, kindergarten teachers, and correlated study in the future. Keywords: kindergarten teachers, kindergarten teachers’ job stress, kindergarten teachers’ job satisfaction, kindergarten teachers’ Subjective Well-Being

　　Although kindergarten work environments in Hong Kong and overseas have been found to be unfavourable, a smaller than expected number of teachers have displayed a low level of subjective well-being (SWB). This research aimed to investigate how SWB could be predicted by perceived work environment, personality types, and resilience. It also examined the mediating functions of resilience in the relationships of perceived work environment and personality types to SWB. 　　In this research, SWB was represented by job satisfaction, measured by the Job Satisfaction Survey; self-esteem, assessed by the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale; and mental health complaints, captured by the General Health Questionnaire-12. Perceived work environment comprised psychosocial and non-psychosocial aspects, with the former evaluated by the School Culture Survey and the latter measured by the Kindergarten Ergonomics-Manpower Inventory (KEMI), a new inventory developed in Study 2. Personality types were measured by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Resilience was represented by hardiness and optimism, which were captured by the Hardiness Scale and the Revised Life Orientation Test, respectively. 　　This research adopted a mixed method design and comprised four studies. Study 1 was the pilot study involving 64 teachers in validating seven inventories and exploring the relationships between perceived school culture, personality types, hardiness, optimism, job satisfaction, self-esteem, and mental health complaints. Data analyses using SPSS 17 revealed that perceived school culture and personality types were significantly related to job satisfaction, self-esteem, and mental health complaints. Hardiness, but not optimism, mediated the relationships of perceived work environment and personality types to job satisfaction, self-esteem, and mental health complaints. 　　 Study 2 developed a new inventory (i.e. KEMI) to measure kindergartens’ non-psychosocial work environments and comprised two stages. The first stage involved two panels of 10 kindergarten principals in the item pool development and 141 teachers rating the items. The second stage was the cross-validation of the findings and involved 125 teachers. Data analyses using SPSS 17 and AMOS 18 showed that items in the KEMI clustered into five subscales, of which the “Ergonomics” subscale contributed the largest variances. 　　 Study 3 was the main study, involving 371 teachers. It investigated how job satisfaction, self-esteem, and mental health complaints were predicted by perceived school culture, perceived ergonomics-manpower, personality types, hardiness, and optimism, and how hardiness and optimism mediated the relationships of perceived work environment and personality types to job satisfaction, self-esteem, and mental health complaints. Data analyses using SPSS 17 and AMOS 18 revealed that perceived work environment predicted job satisfaction, but its effects on self-esteem and mental health complaints were fully mediated by hardiness and optimism. Teachers were predominantly sensing-feeling-judging types. Teachers who were extraverted, intuitive, feeling, judging types tended to perceive their work environments more favorably and to show higher levels of SWB. 　　Study 4 aimed to enrich the interpretations of the quantitative findings by interviews with 24 teachers (volunteers from the participants in Study 3) in four focus groups. Five main themes and two sub-themes emerged. 　　Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed. Recommendations for future research directions are also made. / published_or_final_version / Education / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

This research aims to determine whether the voucher scheme in Hong Kong would really increase professional development of Hong Kong early childhood teachers, and to see how the teachers will react to this change. Few studies have been conducted on how the voucher system affects the teachers. A qualitative approach was employed where a total of twelve teachers and four principals from the four kindergarten schools were asked to participate in the study. The results of the study show that teachers from the different kindergartens were having more convergent views about the pre-primary education voucher scheme among the teachers from these schools. Many of them believe that the voucher scheme is in fact a fair policy and that it could effectively improve teachers‟ quality, though the apprehension of old generation teachers over the influx of the younger and relatively more qualified teachers is a concern that needs to be addressed. / published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

Early childhood inclusive education (ECIE) has been advocated in Hong Kong and other societies for decades. Anecdotal evidence, however, suggests that there might be some gaps between teachers’ beliefs and their practices regarding ECIE in Hong Kong. Although a large number of studies on the implementation of ECIE have been conducted in western countries, there are very few in a Hong Kong context. Therefore, this thesis is dedicated to the investigation of Hong Kong kindergarten teachers’ beliefs and practices regarding ECIE with two studies. Study One was designed to be quantitative in nature, examining Hong Kong kindergarten teachers’ beliefs and practices of ECIE by surveying 184 practitioners. Responses revealed that Hong Kong teachers: (1) shared mixed beliefs in both inclusive education and special education; (2) had positive attitudes toward children with special education needs; and also (3) had positive attitudes toward inclusive practices. However, most of them reported that they had failed to put ECIE into practice. Further analyses found a significant school type effect: the teachers in special child care centers (SCCC) and kindergartens with integrated programs (IP) had more positive attitudes toward ECIE and tended to use more individualized practices than those working in kindergartens without IP. In addition, the special education teachers were found to hold the most coherent beliefs and practices of ECIE among all the samples. Study Two was a multiple case study of five early childhood settings, with a focus on the gaps between teachers’ beliefs and practices of ECIE. The validity was established by triangulating the data sources (principal, general teachers, and IP teachers) and methods (classroom observation, interviews, and document analysis). The results indicated that: (1) there was no consistent pattern in teaching schedules, settings, curricula in the five cases; (2) the principals and teachers had mixed beliefs in ECIE and special education; (3) there was a remarkable belief-practice gap in ECIE; and (4) and the teachers from SCCC, kindergartens with IP, and those without IP had different attitudes about communication with parents, perceived behavioral control and intention, and the practical difficulties in ECIE implementation. These qualitative findings were consistent with those found in Study One. The thesis is believed to offer a contribution to the theoretical and practical development of ECIE. This study provides empirical evidence to the early childhood policymaking. The findings imply that the educational authorities need to provide more resources, teacher training, and support to facilitate the implementation of ECIE in Hong Kong. The limitations of this research and future directions are discussed, and some suggestions about how to bridge teachers’ beliefs and practice gaps are also made. / published_or_final_version / Education / Doctoral / Doctor of Education

published_or_final_version / toc / Education / Master / Master of Education

Η παρούσα έρευνα διερευνά τις έννοιες του γλωσσικού γραμματισμού, ο οποίος κυριαρχεί στα σύγχρονα προγράμματα σπουδών για το νηπιαγωγείο. Σημείο εκκίνησης αποτέλεσε η απροσδιοριστία του όρου «γραμματισμός» όπως καταγράφεται αφενός στα προγράμματα και αφετέρου στις πρακτικές στα νηπιαγωγεία. Το 2011 νέα πιλοτικά προγράμματα για όλες τις βαθμίδες της εκπαίδευσης εισήγαγαν τον όρο «κριτικός γραμματισμός» με σκοπό να συμπληρώσουν και να βελτιώσουν τα υπάρχοντα προγράμματα. Στην εργασία μας επιχειρήθηκε η συγκριτική ανάλυση των επίσημων ή μη εγχειριδίων (παλιών και νέων) με βάση ένα μοτίβο οκτώ αξόνων, που μας επέτρεψαν να διακρίνουμε τις συνέχειες και τις ασυνέχειες ανάμεσα στα προγράμματα. Στη συνέχεια, προσπαθήσαμε να δούμε πώς αποτυπώνονται στις στάσεις και στις πρακτικές σε δύο δείγματα νηπιαγωγών. Πραγματοποιήθηκαν συνεντεύξεις με 7 νηπιαγωγούς που εφάρμοσαν για δύο σχολικές χρονιές το νέο πρόγραμμα «κριτικού γραμματισμού» και με 7 νηπιαγωγούς που το «μελέτησαν» χωρίς να το έχουν εφαρμόσει. Μέσα από την επεξεργασία των προγραμμάτων διαπιστώθηκε πως αυτά παρουσιάζουν μια πολύπλοκη θέση περί γραμματισμού. Ειδικότερα, η στοχοθεσία του νέου προγράμματος στηρίζεται σε επικοινωνιακές-λειτουργικές προσεγγίσεις, παρόλο που υιοθετεί τον κριτικό γραμματισμό ως θεωρητική παραδοχή του. Από την ανάλυση των συνεντεύξεων προέκυψε πως οι νηπιαγωγοί δεν κατονομάζουν το μοντέλο γραμματισμού που ακολουθούν και αναφέρονται σε στόχους που επιδιώκουν μέσω των δράσεών τους. Οι στόχοι αυτοί εστιάζουν στην καλλιέργεια στρατηγικών για κατανόηση και παραγωγή προφορικών κειμένων και στην απόκτηση λειτουργικών δεξιοτήτων για το γραπτό λόγο. Η έρευνα αφενός αποτελεί μια πρώτη προσπάθεια αποτίμησης του νέου προγράμματος πάνω στο ζήτημα του γλωσσικού γραμματισμού και αφετέρου οδηγεί στην ανίχνευση αντιλήψεων και στην υιοθέτηση στάσεων των νηπιαγωγών, που εμπλέκονται σε μια γλωσσική αλλαγή στο χώρο του νηπιαγωγείου. / This research explores the meanings of literacy, which dominates in current curricula in kindergarten schools. The initial point was the indefinite term of “literacy” as, on one side, proposed in curricula and, on the other side, regarding the practices used in kindergarten places. In 2011, the term “critical literacy” was introduced by New Curriculum for all grades in Greek educational systems in order to supplement and improve the already existing curricula. The purpose of this study is to present a comparative analysis of previous and new curricula, according to an 8-base pattern. This pattern allowed us to distinguish the continuity and the discontinuity among the curricula. Moreover, we attempted to investigate teachers' perceptions and attitudes with interviews among 7 kindergarten teachers who implemented for 2 years the new curriculum based on critical literacy pedagogy and 7 kindergarten teachers who just studied this curriculum without having implemented it. The analysis and interpretation of curricula highlighted the complicated meanings attributed to the term of literacy. More specifically, the aim of New Curriculum is based on communicative - functional principles for the teaching of Greek language, even though “critical literacy” is used as a theoretical admission of the new. The interviews shown that kindergarten teachers didn't identify the model of literacy pedagogy suggested by new curriculum and they only mention specific linguistic goals in respect of their literacy practices. These goals are related to comprehension and production of oral texts as well as the acquisition of functional skills for the written medium. In conclusion, this study discussed the perceptions and attitudes of kindergarten teachers to the process of curricular change, which leads to a general change in educational system in kindergarten school age.

The purpose of this study was to compare the opinions of kindergarten teachers, transitional grade teachers, and first grade teachers regarding the importance of selected goals, content, learning activities, and evaluation procedures for a transitional grade between kindergarten and first grade. Effects of teaching experience and educational background were examined.The Transitional Curriculum Questionnaire for Teachers was developed by the researcher and mailed to 189 elementary schools with transitional classrooms. Respondents included 156 kindergarten teachers, 104 transitional grade teachers, and 263 first grade teachers. The majority of the teachers reported educational backgrounds in elementary education. Teaching experience ranged from 1 to 44 years.Through the use of a checklist, responding teachers identified goals, content, learning activities, and evaluation procedures which they considered "important" for a transitional program. A chi-square test at the .05 level of significance was used to analyze the data.Results1. Kindergarten teachers, transitional grade teachers, and first grade teachers agreed on the importance of 10 of the 16 goals, 6 of the 16 content areas, 6 of the 16 learning activities, and 11 of the 16 evaluation procedures for a transitional program.2. Teachers with backgrounds in early childhood education and teachers with backgrounds in elementary education agreed on the importance of all 16 goals, 14 of the 16 content areas, 13 of the 16 learning activities, and all 16 evaluation procedures for a transitional program.3. Teachers with varying years of teaching experience agreed on the importance of 15 of the 16 goals, 14 of the 16 content areas, all of the 16 learning activities, and 13 of the 16 evaluation procedures for a transitional program. / Department of Elementary Education

Thesis (Ed. D.)--University of North Texas, Aug., 2007. / Title from title page display. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. Ed.)--University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves I-IX).