State of the Teaching Profession Survey Results
The results of Professionally Speaking's second annual survey
of members are in.
This year's poll included a separate survey of the public on
issues related to education. Both surveys were conducted by telephone
during July 2004 - reaching 1,000 Ontario teachers and 500 members
of the public.
In this issue, we present the first in a series of reports and
analyses of the results.
Surveys conducted by COMPAS Inc.
|
Question wording presented below has been modified for brevity. For
complete questions and results, please visit www.compas.ca.
Methodology: Professionally Speaking commissioned COMPAS Inc. - a
public opinion and customer research firm - to conduct a representative
sample survey via telephone of more than 1,000 teachers and more than
500 members of the public during July. The results are deemed accurate
to within 3.1 percentage points (for the teacher survey) and 4.4 percentage
points (for the public poll) 19 times out of 20.
Rounding: Due to rounding rules concerning survey results, percentages
for some questions may not add up to 100 per cent.
- Teachers inspire
- Students better prepared
- Confidence in education
- Quality not gender of teacher
- Assessments vs. standardized testing
- Goals of education
- Motivations and challenges
- Your future in education
1. Teachers inspire
When you were in school, did your teachers inspire you to...
| |
|
very inspiring |
not inspiring |
|
| |
| ...work hard at school? |
3.8 |
32% |
29% |
24% |
7% |
4% |
3% |
| ...succeed in life? |
3.7 |
25% |
33% |
24% |
9% |
6% |
3% |
| ...pursue post secondary education? |
3.6 |
30% |
29% |
18% |
10% |
10% |
4% |
| ...fulfill your career aspirations? |
3.4 |
21% |
25% |
26% |
15% |
9% |
4% |
| ...participate in extracurricular activities- sports
or debating? |
3.3 |
20% |
25% |
26% |
13% |
12% |
3% |
| ...develop a skill - play a musical
instrument, do wood working? |
2.8 |
13% |
18% |
22% |
19% |
23% |
6% |
2. Students better prepared
Compared to a generation ago, are today's students better or worse
prepared in...
| |
|
better |
worse |
|
| |
| ...computers and technology? |
4.5 |
61% |
26% |
6% |
1% |
2% |
4% |
| ...science? |
3.5 |
16% |
33% |
32% |
9% |
4% |
6% |
| ...math? |
3.3 |
12% |
29% |
31% |
17% |
7% |
5% |
| ...literature? |
3.0 |
10% |
21% |
32% |
21% |
10% |
5% |
3. Confidence in education
a) How much confidence do you have in...
| |
|
|
a lot of confidence |
|
very
little confidence |
|
| |
| ...the job you are doing personally? |
2004 |
4.4 |
48% |
41% |
6% |
1% |
-- |
4% |
| 2003 |
4.4 |
54% |
34% |
6% |
1% |
1% |
5% |
| ...the school you work in? |
2004 |
4.3 |
43% |
37% |
10% |
2% |
1% |
7% |
| 2003 |
4.3 |
43% |
34% |
11% |
3% |
1% |
8% |
| ...the teaching profession as a whole?* |
2004 |
4.1 |
30% |
49% |
17% |
2% |
1% |
1% |
| 2003 |
4.0 |
32% |
39% |
20% |
5% |
2% |
3% |
| ...the quality of Ontario's education
system? |
2004 |
3.7 |
15% |
49% |
30% |
5% |
1% |
1% |
| 2003 |
3.4 |
12% |
35% |
34% |
12% |
4% |
2% |
*Confidence in the teaching profession as a whole is especially high
among francophones: 90% of francophones scored 5 or 4, with a mean of
4.4% (91% of those in French-speaking workplaces score 5 or 4, with a
mean of 4.3) - compared to 79% and 4.1 among English-speakers.
b) Please grade your school's ability to...
| |
|
|
best score |
worst score |
|
| |
| ...encourage students to work hard
and advance |
TEACHERS |
4.2 |
40% |
38% |
15% |
3% |
1% |
5% |
| PUBLIC |
3.8 |
23% |
29% |
22% |
6% |
2% |
19% |
| ...teach the curriculum |
TEACHERS |
4.2 |
36% |
44% |
13% |
2% |
-- |
5% |
| PUBLIC |
3.9 |
21% |
33% |
23% |
2% |
2% |
20% |
| ...assess and evaluate student progress |
TEACHERS |
4.1 |
30% |
48% |
16% |
1% |
1% |
5% |
| PUBLIC |
3.7 |
16% |
33% |
26% |
4% |
2% |
19% |
| ...adjust to change |
TEACHERS |
3.9 |
28% |
41% |
20% |
5% |
2% |
5% |
| PUBLIC |
3.5 |
14% |
26% |
29% |
8% |
3% |
20% |
| ...improve teaching practices |
TEACHERS |
3.8 |
22% |
41% |
25% |
5% |
1% |
6% |
| PUBLIC |
3.6 |
14% |
30% |
28% |
6% |
2% |
20% |
c) How would you rate your school's performance in...
| |
|
|
very good |
very poor |
|
| |
| ...organizing field trips to community
attractions? |
TEACHERS |
4.2 |
40% |
38% |
15% |
3% |
1% |
5% |
| PUBLIC |
3.8 |
23% |
29% |
22% |
6% |
2% |
19% |
| ...involving parent volunteers? |
TEACHERS |
4.2 |
36% |
44% |
13% |
2% |
-- |
5% |
| PUBLIC |
3.9 |
21% |
33% |
23% |
2% |
2% |
20% |
| ...hosting community events or classes |
TEACHERS |
4.1 |
30% |
48% |
16% |
1% |
1% |
5% |
| PUBLIC |
3.7 |
16% |
33% |
26% |
4% |
2% |
19% |
| ...making available the school's athletic
or arts facilities for community evening and weekend use? |
TEACHERS |
3.9 |
28% |
41% |
20% |
5% |
2% |
5% |
| PUBLIC |
3.5 |
14% |
26% |
29% |
8% |
3% |
20% |
| ...bringing artists and other experts
into schools? |
TEACHERS |
3.8 |
22% |
41% |
25% |
5% |
1% |
6% |
| PUBLIC |
3.6 |
14% |
30% |
28% |
6% |
2% |
20% |
| ...attracting community members, other
than parents, as volunteers? |
TEACHERS |
3.8 |
22% |
41% |
25% |
5% |
1% |
6% |
| PUBLIC |
3.6 |
14% |
30% |
28% |
6% |
2% |
20% |
Elementary school teachers assign significantly higher scores than secondary
school teachers for their school's performance in involving parent volunteers
(67% vs. 38%) and organizing field trips to community attractions (70%
vs. 56%).
4. Quality not gender of teacher
There's been some talk in the media about the number of men entering
the teaching profession. To what extent do you agree that...
| |
|
|
definitely agree |
|
definitely disagree |
|
| |
| ...students should be taught by the
best teachers, whether male or female? |
TEACHERS |
4.8 |
86% |
9% |
3% |
-- |
1% |
1% |
| PUBLIC |
4.8 |
87% |
8% |
3% |
1% |
-- |
1% |
| ...students should be taught by both
male and female teachers? |
TEACHERS |
4.5 |
73% |
12% |
11% |
2% |
2% |
1% |
| PUBLIC |
4.6 |
74% |
13% |
9% |
2% |
1% |
1% |
| ...the College of Teachers should increase
recruiting efforts directed at men? |
TEACHERS |
3.7 |
34% |
24% |
24% |
7% |
9% |
3% |
| PUBLIC |
3.5 |
29% |
24% |
25% |
9% |
10% |
3% |
| ...faculties of education should enrol
an equal number of male and female students? |
TEACHERS |
2.6 |
16% |
10% |
23% |
19% |
29% |
4% |
| PUBLIC |
3.1 |
25% |
15% |
24% |
11% |
24% |
2% |
French-speaking teachers are significantly more apt than English speakers
to say that faculties of education should enrol an equal number of male
and female students. Among the general public, agreement with the proposal
declines with income and education.
5. Assessments vs. standardized testing
a) To what extent is each of the following accurate in measuring a student's
academic ability:
| |
|
|
very accurate |
|
not at all accurate |
|
| |
| Teacher assessments (student observations,
learning logs, participation) |
TEACHERS |
4.5 |
53% |
39% |
6% |
1% |
-- |
-- |
| PUBLIC |
4.1 |
34% |
43% |
18% |
3% |
1% |
2% |
| Teacher-designed tests and assignments |
TEACHERS |
4.1 |
31% |
51% |
16% |
1% |
1% |
-- |
| PUBLIC |
3.9 |
26% |
43% |
24% |
5% |
2% |
2% |
| Province-wide standardized tests |
TEACHERS |
2.3 |
3% |
8% |
30% |
30% |
28% |
1% |
| PUBLIC |
3.2 |
19% |
24% |
28% |
16% |
11% |
4% |
b) To what extent should the results of the province-wide EQAO testing
be used for...
| |
|
|
should use |
should not use |
|
| |
| ...adjusting school improvement plans? |
TEACHERS |
2.8 |
6% |
21% |
34% |
18% |
20% |
2% |
| PUBLIC |
3.5 |
24% |
29% |
25% |
8% |
9% |
5% |
| ...allocating funds to schools? |
TEACHERS |
2.4 |
10% |
14% |
18% |
13% |
42% |
3% |
| PUBLIC |
3.1 |
20% |
20% |
21% |
13% |
19% |
7% |
| ...allocating funds to boards? |
TEACHERS |
2.3 |
8% |
12% |
21% |
16% |
41% |
3% |
| PUBLIC |
3.1 |
17% |
20% |
26% |
10% |
19% |
7% |
| ...evaluating performance of individual
schools? |
TEACHERS |
1.8 |
3% |
5% |
17% |
20% |
55% |
2% |
| PUBLIC |
3.3 |
20% |
25% |
25% |
11% |
14% |
5% |
| ...evaluating performance of individual
principals? |
TEACHERS |
1.7 |
4% |
5% |
11% |
16% |
63% |
2% |
| PUBLIC |
3.1 |
17% |
20% |
27% |
13% |
17% |
6% |
| ...evaluating performance of individual
teachers? |
TEACHERS |
1.6 |
3% |
4% |
11% |
14% |
65% |
2% |
| PUBLIC |
3.3 |
26% |
19% |
22% |
13% |
15% |
5% |
6. Goals of education
a) How important is it for Ontario's public schools to prepare students
who...
| |
|
|
very important |
|
not at all important |
|
| |
| ...enter the workforce directly? |
TEACHERS |
4.8 |
84% |
12% |
4% |
-- |
0% |
1% |
| PUBLIC |
4.7 |
74% |
17% |
7% |
1% |
1% |
1% |
| ...go on to further education? |
TEACHERS |
4.7 |
76% |
15% |
6% |
2% |
1% |
1% |
| PUBLIC |
4.3 |
57% |
20% |
14% |
5% |
2% |
2% |
b) To what extent are each of the following important to a student's
future success?
| |
|
|
very important |
|
not at all important |
|
| |
| Literacy |
TEACHERS |
4.9 |
87% |
12% |
1% |
-- |
0% |
0% |
| PUBLIC |
4.7 |
77% |
16% |
5% |
1% |
-- |
1% |
| Work ethic |
TEACHERS |
4.8 |
83% |
15% |
2% |
-- |
0% |
0% |
| PUBLIC |
4.6 |
72% |
20% |
6% |
1% |
1% |
-- |
| Social / interpersonal skills |
TEACHERS |
4.7 |
77% |
20% |
3% |
-- |
0% |
0% |
| PUBLIC |
4.6 |
65% |
28% |
6% |
1% |
0% |
-- |
| Math |
TEACHERS |
4.5 |
62% |
30% |
8% |
1% |
-- |
0 |
| PUBLIC |
4.3 |
48% |
34% |
16% |
1% |
1% |
-- |
| Generosity of spirit |
TEACHERS |
4.4 |
53% |
35% |
10% |
1% |
0% |
1% |
| PUBLIC |
4.2 |
43% |
36% |
17% |
3% |
1% |
1% |
| Civic mindedness |
TEACHERS |
4.3 |
44% |
42% |
12% |
1% |
-- |
1% |
| PUBLIC |
4.0 |
33% |
40% |
23% |
3% |
1% |
1% |
| Skills in / appreciation for the
arts |
TEACHERS |
3.9 |
29% |
42% |
24% |
4% |
1% |
-- |
| PUBLIC |
3.6 |
21% |
36% |
31% |
10% |
3% |
-- |
| Athleticism |
TEACHERS |
3.7 |
20% |
37% |
35% |
7% |
1% |
0% |
| PUBLIC |
3.4 |
15% |
30% |
38% |
12% |
4% |
1% |
7. Motivations and challenges
a) What aspect of teaching do you enjoy most?
| 80% |
Satisfaction from helping
students learn and grow |
| 22% |
Seeing with your own
eyes the results of your efforts |
| 11% |
Positive feedback from
students and their parents |
Other responses include: being able to specialize in an area of personal
interest (6%) and hours, pay and benefits (3%).
b) What is the greatest challenge for a teacher?
| 27% |
Time constraints |
| 16% |
Motivating and maintaining student interest |
| 14% |
Meeting the expectations of parents, government
and community |
Other issues include: large classes; student discipline and behaviour
issues (each cited by 11 per cent) / work-life balance; increased professional
responsibility; lack of parent, government and community respect (each,
nine per cent) / lack of professional autonomy; remaining current; lack
of new, quality textbooks (each, six per cent) / lack of specialist assistants
(4 per cent).
*Respondents may volunteer several answers, therefore percentages when
added will be greater than 100.
c) Please score each of the following statements:
| |
|
strongly agree |
strongly disagree |
|
| |
| Each year more is expected of me
as a teacher. |
4.4 |
56% |
24% |
11% |
3% |
1% |
5% |
| I feel appreciated as a teacher by
the students I teach. |
4.0 |
36% |
36% |
19% |
5% |
1% |
2% |
| I enjoyed teaching this year as much
as I did before. |
3.9 |
38% |
27% |
16% |
6% |
5% |
9% |
| I would recommend teaching as a career. |
3.7 |
32% |
28% |
26% |
9% |
5% |
1% |
Note: French-speaking teachers are significantly more apt than English-speaking
teachers to feel appreciated by their students (mean 4.5 vs. mean 4.0).
8. Your future in education
Will you be a teacher in five years' time?
| 2004 |
49% |
22% |
10% |
17% |
3% |
| 2003 |
45% |
20% |
12% |
20% |
4% |
For more analysis and cross tabulations, please visit www.compas.ca.
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