Thesis (Ed. D.)--University of Toronto, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 238-246).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Teachers College, Columbia University, 1972. / Typescript; issued also on microfilm. Sponsor: Thurston A. Atkins. Dissertation Committee: Frank L. Smith. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 203-213).

Background: For decades, teacher shortages brought concern in educational systems throughout the United States. As more classrooms were left without teachers, prior researchers focused on strategies and policies to address the problem of teacher turnover and attrition. States such as Wisconsin had fewer qualified candidates to fill positions and saw a 35% decrease in teacher education programs in the past decade. Purpose: This study sought to examine how the induction process was related to teacher attrition for experienced or veteran teachers (five or more years of experience). In addition, the study sought to determine factors that contributed to professional satisfaction or dissatisfaction as related to teaching longevity. By examining these components collectively and including conversations with current teachers, the researcher presented a holistic view of why veteran teachers make the decision to leave the profession. Setting: Northeastern Wisconsin public school districts serving populations from kindergarten through 12th grades in urban, suburban and rural locations. Subjects: The participants were five veteran teachers with five or more years of experience who left the profession before retirement. Research Design: Qualitative phenomenological study Data Collection and Analysis: The participants were interviewed about their induction processes, professional satisfaction and professional dissatisfaction during their teaching careers. The data were analyzed for commonalities and emergent themes among the shared teaching experiences of the participants to determine the reasons they left the profession. Findings: Common themes were identified through the participants’ interviews. The findings showed the induction process for veteran teachers did not meet the needs of these participants. Further, professional satisfaction during their teaching careers were related to intrinsic motivating factors such as improving and aiding in student academic achievement, collegial support, and “making a difference.” The findings indicated the former teachers’ professional dissatisfaction stemmed from challenging behaviors, lack of support, overwhelming responsibilities, monetary deficiencies, and lack of respect for the profession. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that veteran teachers leave the profession as a result of a combination of challenges during their teaching assignments. The study also uncovered that the participants of this study contemplated their decisions to leave their positions years before actually departing the profession.

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The thesis deals with the role played by the teacher in the education of pupils growing up in conditions of social exclusion. The aim of the thesis is to understand the relationship between elementary school and the education of pupils with special educational needs. The author wants to find out how teachers cope with the requirements of inclusive education in their day-to-day practice. Another issue is whether pupils growing up in conditions of social exclusion have access to institutionalized help and what role play teachers in accessing this assistance. The author proceeds through qualitative research. The theoretical basis for research work is the concept of social exclusion and the concept of teacher role in the level of expectation, concept and performance. The thesis presents a legislative framework which formulates the state's current expectations towards schools in the education of pupils with specific educational needs. The text is also about how this legislative framework is reflected in the practice of elementary school and what is the impact on the teachers work in a particular class, with specific pupils.The author answers key research questions through the criteria for the distribution of support, the views of teachers and the method of their work. The author concludes that children growing...

The present study aimed at describing and analysing stakeholders' perception of the role of the school in providing moral education in a multicultural society. The relevance of moral education today in the context of the Mauritian society cannot be underscored given the widespread concern about the collapse of family structures and the demise of family role models as agents of moral education. The adoption of a materialistic philosophy of life and the increasingly influential role of the media have contributed to the disintegration of the moral fibre of society. Using a qualitative approach, the understanding of various categories of stakeholders, namely teachers, students, parents and school administrators, regarding the issue of morality, moral education and the role of the school have been investigated through a survey. The sample consisted of 33 teachers, 30 students and 9 school administrators and 10 parents. The data was collected through four focus group discussions with students and teachers respectively and a series of individual in depth interviews with parents and school administrators. The data collection period extended over eight months. The conceptual framework used in the study was based on the social learning model developed by Bandura (1991:91). The notion of modelling or vicarious learning as a form of social learning is particularly relevant in the case of moral learning and moral socialisation in the context of the school. The findings reveal a general consensus among adults of the need for schools to seriously reconsider its function as a moral educator. Their perceptions of the ways in which it ought to take place focus primarily on the use of role modelling and dialogue within the school set up. Adults also seem to believe that some form of direct moral instruction could be considered if the strategy used is more student-centred and based on discussions about case studies. The students, however, perceive indirect moral instruction through the hidden curriculum to be more effective in helping them to understand and internalise moral values. Chief among their concern is the role of the teacher and his or her professionalism as well as communication skills. In the light of the findings, guidelines have been developed to implement a moral education programme at secondary school level. / Educational Studies / D.Ed.(Psychology of Education)

The present study aimed at describing and analysing stakeholders' perception of the role of the school in providing moral education in a multicultural society. The relevance of moral education today in the context of the Mauritian society cannot be underscored given the widespread concern about the collapse of family structures and the demise of family role models as agents of moral education. The adoption of a materialistic philosophy of life and the increasingly influential role of the media have contributed to the disintegration of the moral fibre of society. Using a qualitative approach, the understanding of various categories of stakeholders, namely teachers, students, parents and school administrators, regarding the issue of morality, moral education and the role of the school have been investigated through a survey. The sample consisted of 33 teachers, 30 students and 9 school administrators and 10 parents. The data was collected through four focus group discussions with students and teachers respectively and a series of individual in depth interviews with parents and school administrators. The data collection period extended over eight months. The conceptual framework used in the study was based on the social learning model developed by Bandura (1991:91). The notion of modelling or vicarious learning as a form of social learning is particularly relevant in the case of moral learning and moral socialisation in the context of the school. The findings reveal a general consensus among adults of the need for schools to seriously reconsider its function as a moral educator. Their perceptions of the ways in which it ought to take place focus primarily on the use of role modelling and dialogue within the school set up. Adults also seem to believe that some form of direct moral instruction could be considered if the strategy used is more student-centred and based on discussions about case studies. The students, however, perceive indirect moral instruction through the hidden curriculum to be more effective in helping them to understand and internalise moral values. Chief among their concern is the role of the teacher and his or her professionalism as well as communication skills. In the light of the findings, guidelines have been developed to implement a moral education programme at secondary school level. / Educational Studies / D.Ed.(Psychology of Education)

Doctor of Philosophy / Curriculum and Instruction / Margaret G. Shroyer / The goal of this research study was to identify the factors that influence community college students’ educational attainment as future teachers. In this naturalistic case study, three forms of data collection were used to answer the research question: 1) documents and reports; 2) student surveys; and 3) student interviews. The case for this study was the teacher preparation program at a mid-sized community college, Butler Community College (Butler), in El Dorado, Kansas. The population of the study included 83 elementary education majors enrolled in the teacher preparation program at the community college. Document and report analysis provided a detailed description of the teacher preparation program at Butler Community College, to include Butler’s role in teacher education. Survey analysis provided a demographic profile of the research population, as well as the barrier and support factors that influenced the educational attainment of these elementary education students. Interviews were conducted with a select group from the population (22 students) who had completed all of the education courses at Butler Community College and were ready to transfer to a four-year teacher education program. Interview analysis provided a detailed demographic profile of participants, as well as a more detailed description of the specific barriers and supports elementary education students experienced while attending Butler. The barriers and support factors were categorized as: 1) institutional barriers or supports; 2) instructional barriers or supports; and 3) personal barriers or supports. The greatest barriers students experienced were personal barriers, such as time management and financial issues. The major institutional barrier was lack of staff support, primarily advising support. Instructional barriers, such as the irrelevance of general education curriculum or problems with a specific course curriculum, were only minor barriers for students. The greatest overall support students experienced at the community college was in the form of instructional support, both faculty support and practical education coursework with accompanying field experiences. The major institutional support was staff support, namely, advising. Family support was cited as the major personal support.

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Text in Afrikaans / Die studie handel oor die belewing van die onderwyser-leerlingrelasies deur die senior sekondere skoolleerling. Bepaalde faktore uit die literatuur blyk 'n invloed uit te oefen op onderwyserleerlingrelasies, naamlik opvoedingsklimaat, opvoedingstyl en intermenslikheid van die onderwysers. Onderwyser-leerlingrelasies word deur 'n outokratiese opvoedingstyl en onwarme opvoedingsklimaat benadeel. 'n Betroubare meetinstrument is ontwikkel en in 'n empiriese ondersoek op standerd 6- tot 10-leerlinge afgeneem. Die resultate van die faktorontleding het getoon dat daar veral twee faktore is wat 'n invloed kan uitoefen op die onderwyser-leerlingrelasies, naamlik opvoedingsklimaat en opvoedingstyl van die onderwyser. Daar is ook bevind dat standerdgroepe en taalgroepe in hulle belewinge van die opvoedingsklimaat en opvoedingstyl verskil. Dit wil uit die resultate voorkom asof geslag 'n rol speel in leerlinge se belewing van opvoedingsklimaat en opvoedingstyl van die onderwyser. Norms is vir die vraelys bepaal deur routellings in staneges om te skakel. / This study concerns the experience of the teacher-student relationship by the senior secondary pupil. A literature study revealed that specific factors seem to influence teacher-student relationships, namely educational climate, educational style and the human nature of the teacher. An autocratic educational style and climate could harm teacher-student relationships. A reliable measuring instrument was developed and administered to standerd 6 to 10 pupils in an empirical study. The results of the factor analasys indicated that two major factors could influence the nature of the teacher-student relationship, namely educational climate and educational style of the teacher. The results also indicated a significant difference in standard groups' and language groups' experience of teacher-student relationships. It also appears from the results as if gender could play a significant role in pupils' experience of educational climate and educational style of the teacher. Norms were established for the questionnaire. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

The thesis is concerned with the application of Feuerstein's theory of mediated learning experience to teaching in the first year of primary school. It summarises basic information about Feuerstein's work, the theories of mediated learning experience and structural cognitive modifiability. It also deals with the application of mediated learning experience to teaching in the first year of primary school. In this respect, it characterises the period of early school age and the role of the teacher. The central theme of the work, the theory of mediated learning experience, is an approach targeted at the process and structure of thought. The application of this theory is aimed at the individual's general cognitive development, especially the development of the thinking process. The principal goal of the thesis is to introduce the possibilities of applying the theory of mediated learning to teaching in school and thus contribute to the spread of this methodology only recently introduced to the Czech Republic, which can be considered a helpful and meaningful way to enrich teaching and support the children's cognitive development.