This National Education Association research survey forms a profile of the American public school teacher and provides information covering a 25-year period from 1961-86. The survey offers insights about trends in the composition of the teaching profession, the characteristics of teaching service, and the changing position of teachers in society. Approximately 2,000 questionnaires were sent to a cross-section of the nation's 2.2 million teachers during 1985-86; the rate of usable responses was 72.4 percent. Survey highlights cover the following areas of teaching: professional preparation, teaching experience, staffing patterns, class size, weekly workload, professional development, attitudes toward the profession, economic status, personal life, and community and civic life. For the first time in history, a majority of teachers--51.4 percent--have a master's degree or higher. In 1961, less than a quarter of all teachers had earned a degree beyond the bachelor's. This trend of academic enrichment is predicted to continue. The average teacher has more experience than ever before--15 years in teaching. Teachers are spending more time on teaching duties. A decline in the number of minority teachers has occurred, however, at the same time that minority enrollments are increasing. Tables and charts accompany each of the 10 topical chapters; the survey questionnaire and tabulation of responses are appended. (CJH)