A Study of the Entry Mechanisms of University-Based Teacher Educators. Report No. 9011 / Mark M. Isham and Others.

Twenty-six tenured faculty members of schools of education were interviewed in an effort to ascertain their perceptions of the circumstances that led to their becoming teacher educators. A clear and direct continuity of development from classroom teacher to university-based teacher educator was noted. Interviewees identified advantages of a career as a teacher educator and described circumstances surrounding their decisions to enter teacher education and to leave the classroom. Majority responses involved: (1) retention of psychic rewards of classroom teaching while gaining greater material and intellectual rewards; (2) more influence and impact on the nature and quality of the profession; (3) frustration with the static nature of teaching at the elementary and secondary levels; (4) greater amount of personal freedom; (5) intellectual challenge and stimulation of university life; (6) opportunity to combine interests in various disciplines with interests in teaching; and (7) relatively easy entrance to university-based teacher education. (JD)

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