CAREER PLANS AND WORK PERCEPTIONS OF PRESERVICE TEACHERS

This article examines the reasons for entry, work perceptions, and the future career plans of 272 preservice teachers who entered a highly s elective graduate teacher education program in 1987 and 1988. The prof ile of their job expectations was compared with that of a sample of ex perienced teachers. The study concludes that these talented students a re entering the profession mainly for altruistic reasons and have fair ly realistic views of working conditions; however, many plan to remain only if they derive the expected satisfaction from working which chil dren. The findings are compared to labor market forecasting theories w hich could direct policy makers in their efforts to attract and retain high ability individuals to the teaching profession.