Publication Date

1965

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Miller, Elwyn R. (Professor of education)||Ogilvie, William K.

Degree Name

M.S. (Master of Science)

Legacy Department

Department of Educational Administration

LCSH

Teachers--Out-of-school activities

Abstract

The central focus of this study was an attempt to determine the time consumed by out-of-session activities performed by junior high school teachers as part of the professional services expected from them. Method. A survey of related periodic literature of the past ten years listed in the Educational Index and other selected studies dating since 1925 was made. A number of studies was made up to 1930* after that few were instigated until 1950, and the last major study was made during 1960-61 by the National Educational Association. For the most part these reports classified teachers as elementary or secondary teachers; few studies surveyed even mentioned the junior high teacher as such, emphasizing the need of studies similar to this one. A descriptive survey type study using a forty-four item questionnaire to collect data was initiated on the junior high level. It was sent to three hundred teachers in eight counties of northern Illinois in January 1964, and a return of fifty-six per cent was obtained. The information from the returns was grouped and put into table form according to four sub-problems: the amount of time spent on out-of-session activities; the teaching field in which the teacher giving the time taught; the number of years of teaching experience; and the out-of-session activities that consumed time. From the data, median hours per week were calculated; for teaching experience a difference was found and tested statistically for significance. Conclusions. From the item analysis the median teacher’s work week was 48.27 hours of which 15.77 hours was out-of-session time. Relative to the teaching field the data showed home economics teachers gave 19.0 hours per week, language arts teachers gave 19.0 hours, physical education teachers gave 10.2 hours, mathematics teachers gave 17.6 hours, industrial arts teachers gave 16.9 hours, science teachers gave 14.4 hours, social studies teachers gave 14.1 hours, art teachers gave 14.0 hours, and music teachers gave 10.4 hours to out-of-session activities. Data involving teaching experience showed the more experienced teachers (nine years or more) devoted 1.69 hours per week less in out-of-session time than the teachers in a group having one to four years experience. This difference was found not to be significant, however, when tested statistically. Data on specific activities showed the duties teachers perform before and/or after school required 23.7 per cent of the time given to out-of-session activities. Preparation of materials required 15,8 per cent; planning and grading papers each consumed 12.6 per cent, and the six hours remaining were taken up by seventeen other activities. Recommendations. Teaching loads can become oppressive; a re-evaluation of the general aspects of teaching load, especially the amount of time given, need to be investigated frequently to prevent this. Administrators need to use load formulas and make adjustments in teaching assignments accordingly. Teacher responsibilities in the past need to be compared with those of the present in order to determine the extent of new pressures and of time consuming activities that may have become part of the teacher's week. Time elements involved in the use of teacher aids, secretarial help, team teaching, television, and teaching machines need additional investigation.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references.

Extent

x, 68 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

Download

Share

COinS