Who Are Our Teacher Education Graduates, and Where Are They Going?

The study reported in this symposium created a profile of teacher education graduates which raises issues related to teacher professionalism and teacher retention in the field. A common teacher education follow-up survey instrument was administered to beginning professionals from seven different universities in five states. Data were gathered from graduates in the following areas: employment history, ratings of program quality, professional knowledge, competence in selected teaching skills, views of teaching, and demographic information. Comparative data analysis presents a description of who our teacher education graduates are and where they going, and it raises some issues for further investigation. First, there is the basic issue of where and how teacher education graduates practice; second, data from this study present a picture that reflects current practice, not its enhancement or improvement. A final issue is related to the nature of practice and asks about the relationship between current teacher education reform efforts and the profile of graduates and about the possibility of the profile changing as programs change. Three tables--Ratings of Knowledge and Skills, Orientations to Teaching, and Early Stages of Professional Careers--are appended. (LL)