Secondary science education resources of graduate and undergraduate teacher education institutions in New England were compared. A 72-item survey was mailed to library directors of these institutions. There was a 75 percent response rate from the 56 institutions that prepare secondary science teachers. Of the 42 responding institutions, 19 had…

Evolution of Northern Arizona University's new Center for Excellence in Education (the former College of Education) is traced and its interaction with the university, schools, and public agencies is illustrated through discussion of two special education training programs. An overview is provided of the numerous changes resulting from the…

The Coalition of Teacher Education Programs (COTEP) is a voluntary group of six Indiana universities: Ball State, Indiana State, Indiana University, Purdue, and the University of Evansville. This report from COTEP summarizes the recommendations made in nine commissioned papers on improving the education of teachers. These papers focused on topics…

Students earning a Master's Degree in Special Education in 1985 at West Virginia University were surveyed concerning their job satisfaction and their teacher training programs. The majority of the 54 respondents found special education to be a personally satisfying career and believed that their individual efforts made a difference. However, many…

The South Carolina Teacher Cadet Program (TCP) was developed to recruit high school students with strong academic records into the field of teaching. The program enrolls such students in a senior honors class to learn more about teaching, learning, schools, and the field of education. The program is established in 54 sites in the state and invites…

Included in this volume are a series of dialogues about various approaches to teacher education. Each dialogue consists of a brief sketch of a particular teacher education program, along with a response from the director of that program. The sketches, though organized differently, tend to describe similar program features: purposes, context,…

Many recent reports have predicted an impending crisis in the teaching profession. At the heart of the reports and the reform effort lies the notion that in order to improve school experience for children, school experiences for teachers ought to be improved. This paper deals with teacher incentives as a means of attracting, retaining, and…

In an effort to redesign an undergraduate teacher preparation program at the University of Maine (Orono), field research was conducted gathering attitudes and opinions from educators, students, and special interest groups (e.g., State Board of Education, State Teacher's Association). Data were gathered from questionnaires, group sessions, and…

This paper discusses the implications of research on effective schools and classrooms for teacher training programs. References to research focus on studies of schools and classrooms in which nearly all students demonstrated at least minimum mastery on standardized achievement tests of mathematics and reading. At issue are the questions of whether…

Viable reading education programs require faculty who not only know the field but also remain sensitive to the many forces controlling program survival. A program will function well only if the administration clearly articulates the management process, responds intelligently to market trends, and includes faculty input in decision making. Among…

The purpose of this document, which presents suggestions for needed changes in teacher education, is to provide guidance in the development of improved teacher education programs. Elements outlined in the document include: (1) the major functions of teaching (facilitating learning, classroom management, professional decision making); (2) learning,…

In May 1983, the Georgia Board of Education identified six tasks to be pursued in an attempt to improve education in the public schools: (1) strengthen high school graduation requirements; (2) establish statewide promotion guidelines for at least one grade in elementary school (the 3rd grade was chosen); (3) implement merit or differential pay for…

The history of the gradual redesigning of teacher education in Ohio from the first certification law for teachers in 1825 to the present is outlined. Descriptions of the rationale and processes of changes are presented in the following sequence: (1) reforms of the past; (2) two critical decades in redesigning teacher education; (3) funding for…

A followup study of recent graduates from the undergraduate teacher education program at Bowling Green State University (Ohio) resulted in findings on their perceived needs, proficiencies, and what produced the indicated proficiencies. The subjects also evaluated their present attitudes toward teaching. In addition, the principal or department…

Throughout the l9th and 20th centuries, the field experience component has generally been acknowledged as a key element in teacher preparation. This paper places inquiry into field experiences into an historical and critical context, raising questions about assumptions that are generally taken for granted. Field experience in teacher education is…