Dissertations and Theses @ UNI
Availability
Open Access Thesis
Keywords
Mainstreaming in education; Teachers of children with disabilities--Training of;
Abstract
P.L. 94-142 (The Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975) requires that a comprehensive system of in-service training must be implemented to assist regular educators meet the challenge of educating the mildly handicapped in the regular classroom. Relative to the required in-service as stated in P.L. 94-142, this study had two goals (1) to measure the attitudes and perceptions of school administrators and regular classroom teachers toward in-service development related to mainstreaming and (2) to study problem areas associated with conducting such in-service.
The study was conducted in a nine county rural area in North central Iowa. The population included all Northern Trails Area Education Agency II school administrators and a 10 percent random sample of AEA II regular classroom teachers at each the elementary and secondary level. The combined populations totaled 278.
A questionnaire was employed, soliciting educator responses to (1) attitudes and perceptions toward in-service activities
related to mainst:.eamin0, (2) the most appropriate length of in-service, (3) the most appropriate people to conduct the in-service, (4) the preferred format for in-service and (5) problems related to conducting such in-service. Chi-square results were obtained for sections of the questionnaire where Chi-square application was appropriate. Responses were tabulated by frequency and percentages for all sections of the questionnaire.
Results of the study, as taken from the selected population, indicated that (1} attitudinal and perceptual differences exist between school administrator and regular teachers on in-service training, (2} attitudinal and perceptual differences are minimal between elementary and secondary teachers related to in-service training, (3) both groups preferred in-service which is half-day or a full day in length, (4) both groups preferred in-service activities which are demonstration and activity-centered and {5} the most appropriate people preferred to conduct the in-service are AEA II personnel and special education teachers.
Problems verified by the findings of the study included teachers attending in-service: (1) with released time and pay, {2) in the evening with pay, (3) on weekends with pay, {4) during the summer with extended contract, and (5) the hiring of substitutes to allow teachers to attend in-service during the regular working hours.
The implications for further research suggested additional study be conducted in the areas of (1) comparative studies on a statewide basis, (2) actual knowledge of educators rather than perceived levels of in-service topics related to mainstreaming, and (3) the effects master contracts have on in-service training programs.
Year of Submission
1979
Degree Name
Specialist in Education
Department
Department of Special Education
First Advisor
Lee Courtnage
Date Original
1979
Object Description
1 PDF file (117 pages)
Copyright
©1979 James L. Blietz
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Blietz, James L., "School Administrators’ and Regular Classroom Teachers’ Attitudes and Perceptions on In-Service Training Related to Mainstreaming Mildly Handicapped Pupils" (1979). Dissertations and Theses @ UNI. 1501.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/etd/1501
Comments
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