The MetLife Survey of the American Teacher, conducted by Harris Interactive (formerly Louis Harris and Associates, Inc.) each year since 1984, explores teachers' opinions and brings them to the attention of the American public and policymakers. In fact, many projects in education supported by MetLife Foundation are developed based on the survey's findings.
The MetLife Survey of the American Teacher: The Homework Experience examines the perspectives and experiences of teachers, students and parents regarding the purposes, quantity, quality, and value of homework (2007).
The MetLife Survey of the American Teacher, 2006, Expectations and Experiences examines what teachers, principals and deans of schools of education each consider most critical to prepare teachers to meet classroom demands, as well as the expectations and experiences of prospective and former teachers.
The MetLife Survey of the American Teacher, 2004-2005, Transitions and the Role of Supportive Relationships examines the experiences of teachers, principals and secondary school students entering a new school; the degree to which personal connections affect their attitudes toward work and school; and the importance, and challenges of, parent involvement.
The MetLife Survey of the American Teacher, 2003, An Examination of School Leadership explores the attitudes and opinions of teachers, principals, parents and students regarding school leadership. The survey examines the role of the school leader in establishing the school’s atmosphere and also looks at relationships among members of the school community. Results indicate that while there is consensus regarding the goals of school leadership, opinions differ on whether or not these goals are being met.
The MetLife Survey of the American Teacher, 2002, Student Life – School, Home and Community explores the forces and factors at work in students’ lives that influence their success in school and beyond. Teachers and students were asked their opinions on a number of issues, including: whether students get enough sleep and exercise, what students worry about, how teachers perceive their students, whether students participate in activities outside the school day and what parents know about their children’s lives. The findings in this survey have useful information for any group that serves young people, directly or indirectly.
The MetLife Survey of the American Teacher, 2001, Key Elements of Quality Schools examines how teachers, principals and students evaluate their schools on key measures of an effective school environment, such as teacher quality, school building conditions, standards and expectations and relationships between key groups. Results suggest that not all students have access to the tools, knowledge and guidance they need to succeed in school and beyond.
The Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, 2000, Are We Preparing Students for the 21st Century? examines teachers', students' and parents views on where students are headed and how prepared they will be to reach their future goals.
The Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, 1999, Violence in America's Public Schools--Five Years Later revisits issues addressed in the 1993 study and compares current findings with the state of affairs five years ago. This survey investigates the issue of school violence from the perspectives of student, teachers and law enforcement officers.
An Executive Summary and Major Findings of The Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, 1998, Building Family-School Partnerships: View of Teachers and Students can be accessed online. This survey revisits issues addressed in the 1987 survey and compares current teacher opinions on parental involvement in education with those expressed a decade before. This report focused primarily on the various ways parents can be actively involved with their children's education.
Copies of The MetLife Survey of the American Teacher are available, while in print, by writing to:
MetLife
The American Teacher Survey
Corporate Contributions
27-01 Queens Plaza North
Long Island City, NY 11101
Surveys in this series include:
- The Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, 1984 analyzes attitudes of elementary and secondary school teachers toward both public education in the United States and educational reform. (Out of print)
- The Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, 1985, Strengthening the Profession examines teachers' own agenda for educational reform. (Out of print)
- The Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, 1986, Restructuring the Teaching Profession explores the current structure of the teaching profession and ways to restructure it. (Executive summary available)
- The Metropolitan Life Survey of Former Teachers in America, 1986 reflects the views of those who left the teaching profession for other occupations. (Out of print)
- The Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, 1987, Strengthening Links Between Home and School includes the views of parents of America's schoolchildren and reveals how parents and teachers are united in their commitment to educating America's youth. (Out of print)
- The Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, 1988, Strengthening the Relationship Between Teachers and Students includes the views of students in grades 4-12, and also focuses on minority teachers' satisfaction with teaching and ways to increase their participation in the profession. (Executive summary available)
- The Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, 1989, Preparing Schools for the 1990s looks back at the changes in education through the 1980s and looks ahead to the changes teachers say would improve education.
- The Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, 1990, New Teachers: Expectation s and Ideals -- Part I Entering the Classroom examines the views of first-time teachers entering the classroom in the fall of 1990.
- The Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, 1991, The First Year: New Teachers Expectations and Ideals returns to the cohort of new teachers who entered the classroom in the fall of 1990 and gauges their attitudes as they conclude their first year in the classroom.
- The Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, 1992, The Second Year: New Teachers' Expectations and Ideals revisits the new teachers after completing two years of teaching in America's classrooms.
- The Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, 1993, Teachers Respond to President Clinton's Education Proposals provides valuable insight into what teachers believe needs to be done to make our schools safe and productive places for learning.
- The Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, 1993, Violence in America's Public Schools illustrates the concerns of teachers, students and law enforcement officers across the country, about the increasing violence and fears of violence in their schools.
- The Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, 1994, Violence in America's Public Schools: The Family Perspective examines the contrasting views of parents and students about what goes on in and around the school building.
- The Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, 1984-1995, Old Problems, New Challenges revisits concerns addressed in our first survey, in an attempt to find out whether the educational system has changed after years of intensive reform efforts. (Out of Print)
- The Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, 1996, Students Voice Their Opinions on:
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- Violence, Social Tension and Equality Among Teens--Part I is the first in a series of four 1996 releases of students' opinions that provide insight and understanding to the issues of violence and social tension in the nation's public schools. (Out of Print)
- Their Education, Teachers and Schools--Part II provides students' views on their education and where improvements are most needed.
- Learning About Values and Principles in School--Part III gives the education community a general understanding of students' receptivity to learning about values and principles of right and wrong in the classroom.
- Learning About Multiculturalism--Part IV assesses students' opinions and interests about multicultural topics and provides an important and encouraging message to educators about the likely benefits if multiculturalism is given greater attention in the schools.
- The Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, 1997, Examining Gender Issues in Public Schools examines the opinions of teachers and students on topics related to students' future goals and aspirations in the classroom. Gender differences and similarities are the primary focus of the report.
Mini-Surveys -- Teachers' Views on Current Issues in Education
- The Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, 1991, Coming to Terms probes emerging problems related to tightened school budgets. (Out of print)
- The Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, 1992, Ready or Not: Grade Level Preparedness examines teachers' perspectives on an issue that is key to the new national education goals. (Out of print)
The series also includes several reports on individual states -- two surveys of California teachers and one of New York teachers -- whose questions parallel the 1984 and 1985 nationwide studies. (Out of print)
Also Available:
Preparing Schools for the 1990s: An Essay Collection contains the views of distinguished education leaders such as Theodore R. Sizer, Albert Shanker, Michael W. Kirst, and Floretta Dukes McKenzie among others, who discuss recent and future directions in the efforts to improve our public schools.
