This paper draws from a systematic literature review carried out for the General Teaching Council for Scotland on "Widening access into the teaching profession." The paper first sets out a rationale for seeking the creation of a teaching profession that is demographically representative of the wider population. It is suggested that eight…

The teaching profession is facing a dramatic crisis as it attempts to deal with both "quantity" (teacher shortages, rising student enrollments, teacher persistence) and "quality" (teacher competence, teacher certification, teacher testing) problems. (CB)

Reviews research by June Gordon, appearing in the June issue of "Teachers College Record," that explored why Asian Americans were underrepresented in the teaching profession. Major reasons that Asian Americans avoided the teaching profession were parent pressure, lack of self-confidence, fear of working in an unfamiliar environment, and…

Cites these conditions as combining to create a need for more teachers now or in the immediate future: reduction in teaching candidates; federal legislation, such as PL 94-142; career attractions outside of teaching; expanding preschool programs; shifting populations; rigid teacher competency standards; and more nonschool teaching opportunities.…

Various types of teacher training schools in the People's Republic of China are described. Although there are many new teacher training schools, there is still a shortage of teachers. The development of education in China is an indispensable aspect of its modernization. (JN)

A review of the research on the shortage of special education teachers and the role of attrition leads to eight recommendations to improve special educators' work environments and increase retention. Four of these recommendations are: hire certified teachers; use salaries and bonuses as incentives to remain; develop responsive induction programs…

In considering the problem of raising the professional stature of the teaching profession, a review is presented of current statistics on: (1) shortages of mathematics and science teachers; (2) declining enrollment in teacher education programs; (3) widening gap in supply and demand for teachers; (4) current and future shortages of teachers; (5)…

Reviews contemporary international attrition research in order to examine: the definition of teacher attrition; patterns of attrition; influences upon attrition; the impact of attrition; and strategies used to decrease attrition. The paper concludes that research on teacher attrition requires the development of more comprehensive databases on…

This book reports on the current condition of teaching in the United States and presents an analysis of variables for each state and the District of Columbia that affect teaching now and in the future. These variables include population changes, enrollment patterns, numbers of teachers, projected teacher shortages, salaries, school spending and…

In recent years there has been a steady decline of people selecting teaching as a career, coupled with an increase in early retirement by existing teacher personnel. Teacher shortages are reported in 37 states, and the problem is particularly acute for rural schools. To solve the problem, strategies for recruiting potential teachers are proposed…

The low number of blacks either enrolling in teacher education programs or available for teaching positions has been documented in numerous studies. However, not only do black college students not choose education as often as other professions, but black high school students do not choose to attend college as readily as members of other minority…

Minority professionals serve as role models for minority children; however, a decline has occurred in the number of minority teachers over the past decade. In New Orleans, Louisiana, "Educators 2000," a cooperative effort between the schools, colleges, and the Urban League, focuses on recruiting students into education careers. (MLF)

An analysis of data on teachers indicates coming changes in recruitment and retention of the American teaching force, in the quality of teachers, and in the attractiveness of teaching as a profession. New recruits to teaching are less academically qualified than those who are leaving, and shortages of qualified teachers in subjects such as…

This memo contains a comprehensive review of past, present, and likely future conditions related to the supply and demand situation of public school teachers. Primary emphasis is placed on the quantitative rather than the qualitative aspects of the teacher supply and demand picture. Section I summarizes and presents highlights of findings on: (1)…

This report examines, from a historical perspective, the desirability of teaching as a career. It focuses first on the reward structure in teaching, and second on the social origins and composition of the teaching force. The goals of the study are to lay out the rough chronological boundaries of several notable long-term trends and to isolate…