In-Service Education of Teachers

Abstract

cern. A review of activities reported shows that considerable effort is being made along this line both in rural and urban areas. While some newer technics are being introduced, many of the older plans are still employed with varying modifications and changing emphasis in points of view. Caswell (9) reviewed the traditional patterns of in-service education and pointed out some of the forward-looking changes. He included such items as (a) a more democratic program including the entire educational staff; (b) more careful consideration for individual problems arising out of actual situations; (c) more concern for teachers' general as well as professional education; (d) closer coordination between pre-service and in-service education experiences; (e) more recognition of in-service training as a part of the teacher's regular educational school program. The Wartime Commission of the U. S. Office of Education (54) submitted an outline of valuable suggestions for refresher courses for persons being recalled into the teaching profession during the present emergency. The list covered activities to be initiated by the school systems themselves as well as those to be sponsored by teacher-training institutions both thru campus and off-campus services. Bigelow (5) included the workshop as one of the important trends of in-service development. Harvey (24) stated that according to the opinions of writers as well as actual practices, definite trends were developing toward more internship teaching as a means of professional improvement of teachers while in service. Elsbree (19) pointed out that the one-time popular teachers' institutes and the traditional summer school programs were being supplemented and even replaced by refresher courses, workshops, informal conferences, discussion groups, and other creations designed to assist teachers in their modern-day classroom tasks.