Reality Checks: The (De)Evolution of Teacher Attitudes

Anyone involved in education gets a sense that, as teachers gain experience, they begin to lose the idealism they once had. The idealism found in preservice teachers (wanting to change the world and affect lives) is soon altered by the reality of the profession. The purpose of this study was to determine the philosophical beliefs that preservice and practicing teachers hold, and if those beliefs change over time. A sample of 219 education students, ranging from those never having taken upper level education courses to experienced teachers in graduate programs, completed a survey regarding their beliefs about education. The responses suggest that significant changes occur in teacher attitudes as they gain experience. Generally, there is a shift toward a less idealistic attitude regarding teaching, learning, and students.