On Becoming a Teacher: A Longitudinal Tracking Study.

Overview & Synopsis

This study was conducted to provide information for the Ontario Ministry of Education about the 1990-91 graduating class of candidates from teacher education institutions in Ontario. Subjects were 5,080 English-language and 417 French-language teacher education graduates. A longitudinal survey was taken in three stages over a period of two years. This report begins with a French-language synthesis of the study, followed by chapters that deal with: the research context and rationale; the survey process and rates of return; relevant background literature; the teacher education class of 1990-91 (demographic information); recruits of 1991; non-entrants to teaching; and a comparative look at entrants to other professions. Data analysis yielded information about the nature of teacher education from the perspective of students, allowed a glimpse of their thoughts and experiences during the first year of teaching, and formed the basis for concluding remarks that confirmed many commonly held notions about teacher education in Ontario. Appendices provide names of teacher education institutions in Ontario and copies of the three English-language and French-language surveys administered to teacher education students. (Contains approximately 130 references.) (LL)