A retrospective methodology was used to assess if there are any statistically significant relationships between university students who are in a teacher preparation program or who indicate an interest in becoming a teacher (preservice teachers) compared with those who indicate they are not interested in becoming a teacher (nonteaching students)…

Parents are the preeminent significant adults in the lives of adolescents, but occasionally teachers are perceived as significant. Pertinent literature is reviewed which describes the extent of influence and qualities of teachers who are chosen as significant by adolescents. Implications for schooling and teaching are presented. Conditions under…

This paper focuses on the ways in which nonparental significant adults affect adolescents' lives. Section 1 provides an overview of the literature regarding nonparental adults and their impact on adolescents. The concentration is on role models and significant adults. Section 2 explores the shift in developmental theory to an interactionist…

Studied characteristics of nonparental significant adults that 285 university students recalled from when they were in elementary and secondary school. Minority students identified ethnically alike adults, with Caucasians selected second most often. Teachers and coaches represented more than half the nonrelated significant adults recalled. (SLD)

Studied high school students' (N=31) perceptions of significant adults as well as possible relationships between facets of alienation. Results showed parents were the adults most frequently named as significant. Teachers were not often chosen. There were no differences in adult relationship patterns between alienated and nonalienated students.…