First Annual Survey of Critical Issues in Teacher Education.

Overview & Synopsis

Respondents to this survey of critical issues in teacher education were primarily university faculty and administrators, although the population included a representation of educators in precollegiate schools. The five highest rated issues were: (1) teacher education programs must include mentoring beginners during their first year of practice; (2) teacher education will not improve until the conditions of practice in schools are improved; (3) preparing teachers for multiethnic, multicultural settings is being accomplished in current programs of teacher education; (4) admission to programs of teacher education should require an evaluation of students; and (5) entry and exit criteria are of critical importance. Tables display an index of agreement-disagreement with critical issues in teacher education, and differences in perception among groups of educators. (JD)