Deck 2: The Teaching Profession

Question 1

Which of the following has most significantly increased the prestige of teaching in the eyes of the public?

A)better staff development programs
B)increased level of education of teachers
C)teachers' involvement in curriculum development
D)alternative certification of teaching candidates

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Urban teachers prefer to join the AFT primarily because of the organization's

A)research on urban conditions.
B)provision for membership by administrators.
C)publications directed toward urban teachers.
D)use of traditional union tactics.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

When considering a defined body of knowledge as a characteristic of a profession, which of the following statements accurately describes a criticism of teacher preparation programs?

A)Too many academic content courses are required.
B)Not enough pedagogy courses are required.
C)There is a healthy mix of content and pedagogy courses.
D)Too many education courses are required.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

In recent measures of occupational prestige, teachers rank

A)at the top of the scale alongside physicians.
B)above the ninetieth percentile.
C)at the bottom of the scale.
D)at the fiftieth percentile.

Question 5

Merit pay is given to a teacher who has

A)caused student achievement scores to rise.
B)demonstrated superior performance.
C)participated in staff development activities.
D)taught in the district twenty years or more.

Question 6

Which of the following presents the greatest obstacle to teachers' gaining the kind of autonomy suggested by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards?

A)Teachers do not receive training in organizing and running their own professional organizations.
B)Most teachers are not interested in gaining more autonomy in their work.
C)Because education is a public enterprise and a public responsibility, citizens and their elected officials will be slow to turn control over to teachers.
D)The teaching population in the United States is too large and too varied to govern its own professional affairs.

Question 7

The phrase teaching out of license means teaching out of

A)the district in which one received tenure.
B)the grade level in which one student-taught.
C)the state in which one received one's original certification.
D)the subject in which one is certified.

Question 8

Considering the ten points discussed in Chapter 2 regarding the characteristics of a professional, evaluate where we are in today's society at considering teachers professionals. Utilize at least three characteristics in your support of the point.

Question 9

Prior to the formation of CAEP, _________________ of the 1,624 education-preparation providers were not accredited by National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

A)10 percent
B)18 percent
C)33 percent
D)51 percent

Question 10

The AFT does not allow membership of

A)transportation workers.
B)municipal workers.
C)cafeteria employees
D)school administrators.

Question 11

Which of the following organizations has historically most closely represented teacher interests through traditional union activities such as collective bargaining and strikes?

A)American Federation of Teachers
B)National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
C)National Educational Association
D)Phi Delta Kappa

Question 12

Your friend Susan found her first year of teaching to be very traumatic. She had great difficulty adjusting to the "real world" of school, and she felt overwhelmed by how much she had to learn and to handle. Which of the following might have helped her most in avoiding such negative experiences during her initial year of teaching?

A)more pedagogy (methods)courses in her teacher preparation program
B)a fifth-year preparation program
C)a mediated entry program
D)periodic, one-day, in-service training workshops

Question 13

Teaching is often thought of as a "semi profession" or "emerging profession," much like

A)doctors and nurses.
B)accountants and business owners.
C)nursing and social workers.
D)lawyers and judges.

Question 14

Many educators believe that increasing teachers' autonomy in deciding about spheres of work will enhance the status of the teaching profession. A number of the issues and trends discussed in Chapter 2 have implications for teacher empowerment. Choose three of the topics covered in the chapter, and discuss how and why each can help enhance teachers' status.

Question 15

Specialized professional organizations generally do not provide

A)regional and national meetings.
B)information on trends and policies.
C)political lobbies at the national and state levels.
D)publications.

Question 16

The fact that there is no agreed-upon body of knowledge for teaching is a limitation when professional organizations try to increase teachers'

A)accountability.
B)autonomy.
C)empowerment
D)professionalism.

Question 17

What has been a major contributor to the rise in the level of "occupational prestige" that teachers are rated?

A)increased levels of education and complex nature
B)need for more "highly qualified teachers"
C)abstract skill and education
D)language acquisition

Question 18

Preparing a good teacher in a "defined body of knowledge" often results in _______________ being a part of the teacher preparation program.

A)professional education
B)"major" and "minors" in the subject area
C)general education courses
D)all of the above

Question 19

Research suggests that the attrition rate for beginning teachers is one of the most significant contributors to the shortage of teachers in the United States. Novice teachers who leave the profession report that the "trauma" associated with the beginning year of teaching is the major factor in their decision to leave. With this in mind, describe how the concept of "mediated entry" addresses the concerns expressed by new teachers.

Question 20

In 2006, the average teacher's salary was ________________ below that of comparable workers.

A)15 percent
B)25 percent
C)35 percent
D)5 percent

Question 21

_______________ do not permit collective bargaining.

A)Charter schools
B)Private schools
C)Public schools
D)Colleges and universities

Question 22

Why would teachers be interested in joining specialized professional organizations?

Question 23

What are the reasons for increased interest in staff development for teachers?

Question 24

The division and rivalry of the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers is often seen as

A)a healthy choice.
B)a separation by geographical location.
C)detrimental to the teaching profession.
D)a joint effort.

Question 25

The Parent-Teacher Association (PTA)has chosen to focus its attention nationally on a variety of educational issues. What are some of these issues?

Question 26

The _________________ has prepared a certification process that is supported by both the AFT and NEA for a national recognition.

A)National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
B)American Federation of Teachers
C)National Education Association
D)National Association of Educators

Question 27

_____________ percent of teachers leave the profession in the first five years.

A)15
B)25
C)45
D)65

Question 28

Describe common topics of discussion that collective bargaining often covers outside of salary negotiations.

Question 29

The educational reform movement of the 1980's and 1990's contributed to __________________.

A)pressure on districts for increased salaries
B)reductions of benefits for teachers
C)alignment of professional standards
D)awareness of basic rights

Question 30

When one considers that teachers do not decide about the "spheres of work", who instead controls the decision making? What are some of the deciding factors?

Question 31

Professional standard boards in each state have the authority to _______________________.

A)issue certificates
B)revoke certificates
C)renew certificates
D)all of the above

Question 32

Over thirty-four states legally require _____________, while it is permissible in eleven states.

A)professional registration
B)the ability to determine all benefits
C)systematic mentoring
D)collective bargaining

Question 33

Provide two examples of groups recruited to teaching by alternative certification, and describe why this path to certification would probably reduce the professional status of teachers.

Question 34

Why does Chapter 2 support the need for a formal, systematic mediated entry for new teachers?

Question 35

What potential hardships might occur when each state sets its own certification requirements?

Question 36

Merit pay is often considered a(n)__________________ for superior performance.

A)reward
B)negotiation
C)union issue
D)continuous training