Supervising Teachers' and Student Teachers' Perceptions of the Actual and Ideal Role of the Elementary Supervising Teacher.

Abstract

The purpose of the investigation was to define and to describe the actual and ideal role of the supervising teacher as perceived by the supervising teacher and student teacher of elementary education. Sample. Survey questionnaires were administered to 155 supervising teachers and 164 student teachers. There were 75 supervising teachers and 75 student teachers participating in college and university student teaching programs in the academic year of 1980-81. The instrument was a questionnaire composed of five sections asking for the perceptions of actual and ideal responsibility of the elementary supervising teacher, from supervising teachers and student teachers. Limitations of Study. The investigation was limited to the perceptions of supervising teachers and student teachers of elementary education. Conclusions. The comparisons of the findings in this investigation did not refute the hypothesis of no difference. Several significant differences did occur. The findings suggested several trends. The perceptions of actual and ideal responsibility to the college program were generally higher for supervising teachers than student teachers. Student teachers were generally higher on the perception of actual and ideal responsibilities of the supervising teacher and college supervisor. Generally, student teachers' perceptions were higher than those of supervising teachers on perception of the actual guidelines used by the supervising teacher, but supervising teachers' perceptions were higher on the ideal guidelines used by the supervising teacher. On the perceptions of actual guidelines for experiences outside the classroom, student teachers' perceptions were higher than supervising teachers. Supervising teachers, however, were higher on the perception of the ideal guideline. The supervising teachers' professional perceptions were higher than the professional perceptions of the student teacher.