The relationship between interest in teaching as a career choice and perceptions of school/classroom environment of 7th and 8th grade students

Abstract

<p>The teaching profession is being confronted with changing demographics: an increase in the number of students of color and a decrease in the number of teachers of color. The study examines the possibility of a relationship between interest in teaching as a career choice and perception of school/classroom environment of 7th and 8th grade students. Seventh and eighth grade students are an appropriate group for the study as they are in the process of developing career options. Also, students have experienced the school/classroom environment for most of their lives and have developed impressions of schooling and the teaching profession. Schools, classrooms, and teachers have an impact on students. The question is whether and how school/classroom environment influence students and their thinking of teaching as a career;The basic findings were that males are less inclined to choose teaching than girls; Caucasians were not more likely than other cultural groups to choose teaching; students who have negative perceptions of school/classroom environment were less likely to choose teaching; Asian students have a more positive perception of the school/classroom environment than any other cultural group; and there are significant differences in the motives and reasons in choosing teaching between those who expressed interest in teaching and those who did not. Finally, a predictor model was developed using discriminant analysis.</p>