Preparation of Australian Primary Teachers in the Teaching of Reading: 1976–1986

Abstract

This paper reports the findings of a ten-year follow-up study into the preservice preparation of Australian primary teachers to teach reading. The original study (Morris & Cope, 1978) surveyed 73 institutions which trained teachers to establish the number of class contact hours assigned to studies of the teaching of reading. Distinctions were drawn between the number of hours allocated in universities and colleges of advanced education and between states. The present study sought to establish whether changes in the numbers of hours allocated had occurred over the period, 1976 to 1986. Instead of distinguishing between types of institutions, this study distinguished between one-year, three-year and four-year teacher training courses. Data are provided on the number of hours allocated to studies which are directly concerned with the teaching of reading, and other studies which are related to but not directly concerned with the teaching of reading. Information is provided on the content of these studies.