Although administrators cannot totally eliminate stress in the schools, they can reduce excessive stress that results in an unfavorable and often damaging climate. One method for doing this is to create an atmosphere of calm and order. Such an atmosphere results from defining and formulating objectives, converting those objectives into action,…

The United Faculty (UF), representing instructors at Diablo Valley College (DVC), has failed to recognize the special problems of collective bargaining in the academic setting and has instead employed a muscular unionism which limits dialog among teachers, administrators, and trustees. This failure is reflected in current collective bargaining…

A joint committee of a local teachers' association and the Tacoma Public Schools studied stress conditions for classroom teachers. Teachers estimated the magnitude of stress for forty-four events and noted those which they had actually experienced. "Involuntary transfer" was perceived as the most stressful event; seventeen per cent of the teachers…

Secondary and college teachers from the Northeast Conference on Foreign Language Teaching responded to a survey to investigate the status of foreign language instruction in the United States. The morale of the profession was found to be high, in spite of the demands made on language teachers, reduced job mobility, and a high average age. The…

This is a report of oversight hearings held in Washington, D.C., on January 23 and 24 and February 5, 6, and 7, 1980, to provide the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Elementary, Secondary, and Vocational Education of the Committee of Education and Labor, with a general picture of the current state of American secondary education. The focus…

This description of the Partners in Encouragement (PIE) program and the methods used to implement the program provide a model for school counselors to combat teacher burnout and improve morale. A discussion of the preliminary planning needs focuses on ways to inform prospective participants of the program, and outlines the introduction to be…

A questionnaire was administered to samples of staff from 22 desegregated middle schools in Detroit, Michigan, to evaluate the impact of desegregation on staff attitudes. The questions focused on a number of areas including desegregation and busing, student achievement, student-staff relations, student racial relations, and staff relations and…

The question of the viability of tenure for college faculty is considered in three papers. In "The History of Tenure," Walter P. Metzger considers the history of academic tenure and the history of opposition to this practice. It is concluded that tenure continues to be a vital institution and has provided a better quality faculty. Its…

Siena Heights College conducted a number of projects designed to enhance institutional vitality through support from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education. Institutional vitality is viewed as involving: a clearly designed and accepted mission for the unit in question; direction, attainable goals, and programs that enable…

Draws on 13 years experience teaching behavior-disordered students to identify effective teaching methods. Discusses the importance of honesty, fairness, consistency, persistence, intuition, praise, and humor in the teacher-student relationship. Provides eight guidelines for developing a workable and suitable classroom reward system. (JHZ)

This article describes a British program for new teachers during their probationary first year of teaching. The program established courses at teacher centers and provided teacher-tutors in a system that formerly gave no support to beginning teachers. (SB)

A series of 10 seminars on teaching and learning across the curriculum were offered at Burlington College (Vermont) to improve faculty morale and to provide faculty development at this college which relies on an all-adjunct faculty. These interdisciplinary seminars focused on local context and culture. The 32 participants, who were paid an…

Examines the low level of teacher morale at inner city schools and finds "ethical" stressors such as racial tension among faculty, falsifying of school records, and sexual harassment by school officials emerging as factors contributing to teacher exit and absenteeism. (AOS)

Stress inherent in classroom teaching serves to cause "teacher burnout," which is characterized by emotional exhaustion and a loss of positive feelings toward students. Prevention of such conditions must begin by informing the newly trained teachers of the conditions, and teaching skills in recognizing the early warning signs. (Author)

Five value-laden levels of increasing responsibility are outlined as criteria applied to teacher's own activities; students' overt classroom behavior; comprehension and attitudes; abilities acquired by students; and future characteristics of students. Knowledge available to a teacher and working conditions influence level choice more than teacher…