Discussion of Educational Plans with Teachers by Indian and Non-Indian High School Students and Type of Subject Taught by Teachers.

The principal objective of this research was to analyze the question of the kinds or types of teachers who have the most influence on students' aspirations and achievements. The study included a sample of students from 4 high schools in which Indian and non-Indian students were enrolled. A questionnaire was administered to and analyzed for 451 respondents. Students indicated that English more than non-English teachers had had a strong influence on their educational aspirations and expectations. Of all students who identified English teachers as persons with whom they had discussed their educational plans, 47% were Indian and 40% were non-Indian. The author concluded from this analysis that English teachers are more likely than other teachers to have discussed educational plans with students. It was further concluded that those Indian students who contacted English teachers appeared to be least academically oriented, or conversely, were more likely candidates for drop-out status. It was suggested that future research on this question should be undertaken with designs which separate the effects of teachers' characteristics from the effects of student-teacher interaction and the content of the subjects taught. (HBC)