What Parents Know and Say about Student Teachers.

ABSTRACT This study examined whether parents knew about student teachers assigned to teach their children in public school classrooms, noting their attitudes toward student teachers. Out of 39 student teachers' classrooms that participated, 16 were secondary, 3 were middle school, and 20 were elementary. Surveys examined whether parents perceived the presence of student teachers as a positive influence on their children; perceived student teachers as being properly trained to teach; viewed student teachers as positive role models; and believed that student teachers affected students attitudes and achievement. A total of 844 surveys went out to parents, and 331 were returned. Results indicated that children talked about student teachers at home. Although parents strongly suggested that student teachers needed to communicate better, they responded favorably to each question about student teachers. Parents said that student teachers positively influenced their children's learning experiences. They suggested that their children liked student teachers, student teachers had been fair to their children, and student teachers were good role models. The parents were aware of the preparation involved to train student teachers, and they said they would choose to have student teachers any time. However, they needed more information to help them decide if the improvements in achievement and attitude were attributable to the work and efforts of student teachers. (Contains 17 references.) (Author/SM)