MetLife Foundation 2001
Since 1984, the MetLife Foundation has sponsored annual surveys of American teachers. The 2001 version, subtitled "Key Elements of Quality Schools", includes data from students and principals as well as teachers. Close to 200 pages long, it presents an immense amount of information, including some useful trend data. (For example, teacher job satisfaction in 2001 is far higher than in 1984, although the researchers have an annoying way of rephrasing the questions so that one cannot be absolutely sure of these comparisons.) This year's highlights include much evidence that teaching counts, that teachers in secondary school feel less connected to their schools (and students) than those in elementary schools, and that teachers and principals and students have sharply different perceptions of their schools. I found particularly revealing a table (Exhibit 1.2) where secondary students are asked to grade their teachers on several dimensions. While more than half give their teachers "A's" in knowing their subject area, just a third of students give similar marks to their teachers for "caring about students" and only a quarter award top marks for maintaining classroom discipline. But that's just the tip of a big iceberg. Much interesting data here, though not especially well digested or clearly presented. For a hard copy, write to MetLife, The American Teacher Survey, P.O. Box 807, Madison Square Station, New York, NY 10159-0807. You can also download a PDF version of the full report (by going to "MetLife Foundation" then "Education") at http://www.metlife.com/Companyinfo/Community/index2.html.
