The major focus of this study is to explore, using the 1990 British Columbia Mathematics Assessment data at the Grade 7 level, gender differences in mathematics teachers' beliefs. As well, this study compared these differences to gender differences of students' beliefs found in the same data. The theoretical rationale for this study is based on a model devised by this researcher, namely the Modified Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI) Research Model, which is the combination of the Cognitively Guided Instruction Research Model (Fennema, Carpenter, and Peterson, 1989) and the Autonomous Learning Behavior (ALB) Model (Fennema & Peterson, 1985). Two way ANOVA as well as planned comparisons (t-test) were used to investigate gender differences within and across a random sample of two status groups (teachers and students). The analysis of the data suggested several conclusions. First, male and female teachers are more similar than different with respect to their beliefs regarding the importance and difficulty of selected mathematics topics. And, Numbers and Operations was the only topic under study in which male and female teachers differed significantly. Male teachers rated Numbers and Operations more important than female teachers. Second, gender differences existed only in students' beliefs about the difficulty of Geometry, and Numbers and Operations. Female students, compared to male students, believe Geometry and Numbers and Operations more difficult. Third, the findings of this study show that the gender differences within each status group are similar. In addition, significant gender difference was found only in overall male's and female's (regardless of their status) beliefs about the importance of Numbers and Operations. Males rated Numbers and Operations significantly more important than females. Further research which directly investigates gender differences in teachers' beliefs and students' beliefs is suggested, as well as further research into relationships between gender differences in teachers' and students' beliefs.

The major focus of this study is to explore, using the 1990 British Columbia Mathematics Assessment data at the Grade 7 level, gender differences in mathematics teachers' beliefs. As well, this study compared these differences to gender differences of students' beliefs found in the same data. The theoretical rationale for this study is based on a model devised by this researcher, namely the Modified Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI) Research Model, which is the combination of the Cognitively Guided Instruction Research Model (Fennema, Carpenter, and Peterson, 1989) and the Autonomous Learning Behavior (ALB) Model (Fennema & Peterson, 1985). Two way ANOVA as well as planned comparisons (t-test) were used to investigate gender differences within and across a random sample of two status groups (teachers and students). The analysis of the data suggested several conclusions. First, male and female teachers are more similar than different with respect to their beliefs regarding the importance and difficulty of selected mathematics topics. And, Numbers and Operations was the only topic under study in which male and female teachers differed significantly. Male teachers rated Numbers and Operations more important than female teachers. Second, gender differences existed only in students' beliefs about the difficulty of Geometry, and Numbers and Operations. Female students, compared to male students, believe Geometry and Numbers and Operations more difficult. Third, the findings of this study show that the gender differences within each status group are similar. In addition, significant gender difference was found only in overall male's and female's (regardless of their status) beliefs about the importance of Numbers and Operations. Males rated Numbers and Operations significantly more important than females. Further research which directly investigates gender differences in teachers' beliefs and students' beliefs is suggested, as well as further research into relationships between gender differences in teachers' and students' beliefs. / Education, Faculty of / Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department of / Graduate

The problems of this study, using secondary teachers in selected schools in Region X, Texas, was to determine (a) How teachers perceived the climate in their school using the Organizational Climate Description Questionnaire (OCDQ); (b) how teachers perceived factors of motivation to work using the Educational Work Components Study questionnaire (EWCS); (c) whether or not teachers who perceived the climate similarly had different perceptions concerning factors of motivation to work. A sample of 600 secondary teachers in Service Center Region X, Texas, was selected to participate, of which 422 completed and returned the two questionnaires (Organizational Climate Description Questionnaire and Educational Work Components Study).

In this dissertation the findings of a survey on 100 inner-city independent school educators, concerning the factors that affect the level of job satisfaction are presented. It was found that educators derive most of their job satisfaction from interpersonal relationships. Dissatisfaction was mainly the result of low salaries, low status in the community, poor facilities and lack of security. Most of the educators were looking for alternative employment and regarded employment in public schools as a much better option. Recommendations were made to principals on how to improve the factors that affect the level of job satisfaction for educators. / Educational Studies / MED (EDUC MANAGEMENT)

Thesis (D. Ed.)--University of South Africa, 2001.

The purpose of this study is to provide an insight into six primary school teachers’ attitudes, ideas and approaches to teaching reading comprehension in Finnish and Swedish schools. In addition, the informants’ reflections on the PISA studies’ results concerning reading comprehension are also included. The study is comparative and based on interviews with primary school teachers in Finland and Sweden. Six teachers, three from a Finish school and three from different Swedish schools, have been interviewed by e-mail. The result shows that on the one hand there are some similarities but also differences both concerning approach and practice. Regarding the reasons why the PISA results differ between the two countries, the informants seem to differ because they have different views on how their colleagues in the other country work and they have no knowledge of each other´s work.

Thesis (MEd)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This .study is .almed at exploring teacher attitudes towards learners presenting with behavior problems and the subsequent strategies they use to manage such problems. Teachers under consideration are from the Limpopo Province, South Africa. In order to better understand the impact of such attitudes and strategies, theoretical underpinnings from the literature as well as the effect of training are also considered. Data gathered from this study was analysed by means of SPSS using descriptive statistics. High levels of behavioural problems appear to be present in the respondents' classrooms, with most teachers attempting to deal with these issues in a contextual manner. Furthermore, those respondents who have received training would appear to be doing so more than those teachers who have not received training. Results of this study also highlight areas on which future research could focus. These include teacher emotions and the effect training has on these emotions. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie het ten doelom onderwysers se houdings te ondersoek teenoor leerders met gedragsprobleme en die strategieë wat hulle gebruik om sulke probleme te hanteer. Die onderwysers is woonagtig in die Limpopo Provinsie, Suid Afrika. Deur gebruik te maak van beskrywende statistiek, is die data wat ingesamel is deur middel van die SPSSprogram verwerk. Dit blyk dat die voorkoms van gedragsprobleme hoog is en dat onderwysers dit op uiteenlopende maniere binne konteks hanteer. Die studie het verder getoon dat die respondente wat opleiding ontvang het die probleme meer effektief hanteer as daardie respondente wat nie opleiding ontvang het nie. Die studie beklemtoon die belang van die houdings van onderwysers in die hantering van gedragsprobleme in die klaskamer en maak ook aanbevelings vir verdere navorsing in hierdie verband.

Thesis (MEdPsych)--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / Recent developments in education have focused on exploring different ways of responding to the diverse learning needs of students. The international trend has been to move towards an inclusive approach based on democratic principles in education, including students with special educational needs in mainstream schools and classrooms. Egypt, an initial signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, has not escaped the prominence of inclusive education on the international education agenda. No legislation on inclusion in schools has been promulgated in Egypt. Furthermore, information is lacking regarding teachers' attitudes towards working with students with special educational needs in mainstream classes, despite the fact that teacher attitude are instrumental in determining the success or failure of inclusive education. The aim of the research, therefore, was to identify teachers' attitudes towards inclusive education. For the purpose of this study, a non-experimental quantitative research design with specific reference to survey research was chosen. The population consisted of teachers in five schools in Alexandria and Cairo and a questionnaire was designed. Data was analysed using the statistical programme SPSS (14.0 for Windows). Results indicate that teachers in Egypt have serious reservations about the feasibility of accommodating students with special educational needs in their classrooms. Curriculum development, educational support, funding opportunities, as well as the training of teachers, need to be addressed in order to facilitate the development of inclusive educational strategies.

Thesis (MEd)--Universiteit van Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Since 1994 the South African government has been committed to the transformation of the educational system driven by the process of democratisation. Inclusive education, as a recent initiative in education, finds its philosophical position within the niche created by the democratic ideal of freedom. equality and justice. Both the teacher and teacher training are key elements within the process of educational transformation. Successful transformation in the schools and classrooms depends upon a change of heart on the part of every teacher in the school. The establishment of a democratic way of life in learners and the successful implementation of inclusive education require that the whole school community, including the teachers, undergo a paradigm shift. The primary purpose of the study was to obtain a clear picture of the teachers' democratic values and their attitude to inclusive education as well as the relationship between their democratic/autocratic orientations and their attitude to inclusive education. The study was done using mainly qualitative research, but it also had a small quantitative component, which was limited to the data collection and data analysis phases. The research findings may be described as follows: • The participating teachers are still in a transitional phase on the road to the transformation of school and classroom practice and are resisting the renewal in education. • Although they find the philosophic underpinnings of inclusive education acceptable, they do not see themselves as ready for the implementation phase. • There is a significant correlation between the teachers' democratic/ autocratic orientations and their attitude to inclusive education. The findings of this study have critical implications for teacher training within a process of transformation, such as we are in at present. During an in-service training programme teachers should be brought to the point where they can place their own values, and attitudes under the microscope and to change them. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Sedert 1994 is die Suid-Afrikaanse regering verbind tot die transformering van die onderwyssisteem soos gestuur deur In proses van demokratisering. Inklusiewe onderwys as In onlangse inisiatief in die onderwys vind 'n filosofiese staanplek binne die nis soos deur die demokratiese ideaal van vryheid, gelykheid en regverdigheid geskep. Beide die onderwyser en onderwyseropleiding is sleutelelemente binne 'n proses van transformasie in die onderwys. Suksesvolle transformasie in skole en klaskamers is afhanklik van In persoonlike harts- en wilsverandering van elke onderwyser in die skool. Die vestiging van In demokratiese lewenswyse by leerders en die suksesvolle implementering van inklusiewe onderwys vra dus In paradigmaskuif van die hele skoolgemeenskap, insluitende die onderwyser. Die doel van hierdie studie was eerstens om In duidelike beeld te verkry van onderwysers se demokratiese waardes, hulle houding teenoor inklusiewe onderwys en ook die verband tussen hulle demokraties/outokratiese orientasies en hulle houding teenoor inklusiewe onderwys. Die ondersoek is gedoen aan hand van In oorwegend kwalitatiewe studie, maar met In klein kwantitatiewe komponent wat net in die data-insamelings- en -analisefases gefigureer het. Die navorsingsbevindinge kan as volg aangedui word: • Die deelnemende onderwysers bevind hulle nog in In oorgangsfase na die transformering van die skool- en klaskamerpraktyk en bied weerstand teen die vernuwing in die onderwys. • Alhoewel die filosofiese begronding van inklusiewe onderwys vir hulle aanvaarbaar is, beskou hulle hulleself nie as gereed vir die implementeringsfase nie. • In Beduidende verband is bevind tussen onderwysers se demokraties/outokratiese orientasles en hulle houding teenoor inklusiewe onderwys. Die bevindinge van hierdie studie hou krities-belangrike implikasies in vir onderwyseropleiding binne In proses van transformasie van die onderwyssisteem soos tans die geval. Onderwysers behoort binne In indiens-opleidingsprogram begelei te word om eie waardes, oortuigings en houdings onder loep te neem en te verander.

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the light of the emphasis on the decentralization of school management in South Africa, the empowerment of all role players to be involved in decision-making has became crucial. My concern is with the experience of the process of empowerment by leaders in education. The implications of empowerment or the lack there-off for the school culture and climate, as well as the underlying role played by the leadership approach of educational leaders, are examined. By engaging in an interpretative analysis of data (questionnaires which contains the views of various role players) I examined the relationship between empowerment, school culture and climate, as well as transformational leadership. Empowerment is not a simplistic concept which is clear from the mutual coherence between the school culture and climate and the particular role assumed by the transformational approach. The particular interaction between transformational leadership, empowerment and the school culture and climate implies greater clarity from all role players about the impact of empowerment. In this way participative management can realise in a spontaneous manner and can change be seen as a unique opportunity to improve teaching and learning. KEY WORDS Empowerment, school culture and climate and transformational leadership. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In die lig van die klem op die desentralisasie van skoolbestuur in Suid-Afrika is die bemagtiging van alle rolspelers tot effektiewe deelname in besluitneming onontbeerlik. My besorgdheid is met die belewing van die proses van bemagtiging deur onderwysleiers. Die implikasies van bemagtiging of die gebrek daaraan vir die skoolkultuur en -klimaat, asook die onderliggende rol wat die leierskapbenadering van die onderwysleiers in die verband speel, is ook ondersoek. Verbind tot 'n interpretatiewe data-analise (vraelyste met die menings van verskeie rolspelers daarin vervat) het ek die verband tussen bemagtiging, skoolkultuur en -klimaat en transformatiewe leierskap ondersoek. Bemagtiging is nie 'n simplistiese begrip nie dit blyk onder meer uit die onderlinge samehang daarvan met skoolkultuur en -klimaat en die besondere rol wat die transformatiewe leierskapbenadering veronderstel. Die besondere wisselwerking tussen transformatiewe leierskap, bemagtiging en skoolkultuur en -klimaat vereis 'n groter duidelikheid by alle rolspelers oor die impak van bemagtiging. Sodoende realiseer deelnemende bestuur spontaan en word verandering as 'n besondere geleentheid beskou om onderrig en leer voortdurend te verbeter. SLEUTELWOORDE Bemagtiging, skoolkultuur en -klimaat en transformatiewe leierskap