Directions for in‐service education

Abstract

In a very broad sense, in-service education consists of those activities engaged in by school personnel during their service and which are designed to contribute to their effectiveness on the job.' These activities may be during regular school hours, after regular school hours, on weekends, during the summer months, or during an official leave. Pro-service education on the other hand. refers almost universally to attendance at an accredited school or college of education in a curriculum designed to prepare a person to teach in a specific field. For example, a person may prepare to be a lower-elementary teacher or a secondary science teacher. In-service education programs are conducted, not only for classroom teachers, but for principals, supervisors, and superintendents. Some school systems conduct in-service training activities for nonprofessional school personnel. These may include school custodial workers, lunchroom workers, and school bus drivers. Professional growth may be the result of activities or programs initiated by teachers, by principals, supervisors or superintendents, or by other groups. An individual school may have a planned inservice education program to increase the effectiveness of its teachers. Also, a school system may plan and implement a program designed generally to promote the growth of teachers and other personnel within the system. State Departments of Education sponsor district or statewide conferences and activities to inform school personnel and improve educational services. Professional organizations of school personnel sponsor district and state-wide meetings for teachers and supervisory and administrative personnel.