Implications of Certification and Teaching Longevity on Middle Level Teacher Preparation

Abstract

The preparation of middle level school educators has been a topic of major concern for almost three decades. In this study, middle level educators were asked to rate the areas of field experiences, classroom management, student counseling, human development, curriculum design, educational technology, and philosophical foundations as to their importance in the preparation of prospective teachers. The data showed that longevity of experience was an influential factor in determining the importance of the areas to be included in middle level teacher preparation programs. Beginning (1 to 7 years) and highly experienced teachers (14 + years) rated six of the seven areas as being more important than did their colleagues with 8 to 13 years of experience. The level of certification (elementary, middle level, or high school) had little or no influence on educator preferences. Major implications of the study include the importance of providing quality field experiences for prospective middle level teachers and the necessity of revising current programs by incorporating the "social studies model."