MetLife Survey of the American Teacher
The MetLife Survey of the American Teacher, conducted by Harris Interactive (formerly Louis Harris and Associates, Inc.), each year since 1984, explores teacher’s opinions and brings them to the attention of educators, policy makers and the public. In fact, many projects in education supported by MetLife Foundation are developed based on the survey’s findings.
2009 MetLife Survey of the American Teacher
The MetLife Survey of the American Teacher: Collaborating for Student Success examines the views of teachers, principals and students about respective roles and responsibilities, current practice and priorities for the future, addressing the issues of effective teaching and leadership, student achievement and teaching as a career (2009).
The Survey report was originally released in three parts, which have been combined into the document posted above:
Part 1: Effective Teaching and Leadership examines views about responsibility and accountability; what collaboration looks like in schools, and if and to what degree it is currently practiced.
Part 2: Student Achievement examines views on student goals, teacher expectations, and what educators believe would increase student achievement.
Part 3: Teaching as a Career examines collaboration in the context of teacher professional growth, experience level and career path.
Previous Surveys
The entire MetLife Survey of the American Teacher series is now available online at the ERIC (Education Resources Information Center) website: http://eric.ed.gov. ERIC document (ED)
The MetLife Survey of the American Teacher: Past, Present and Future looks back to important questions posed in the earliest surveys to examine changes in the perspectives of teachers, principals and students about teachers, teaching and learning, and professional and parent relationships, and consider future implications (2008). 25th Anniversary Edition. ED504457
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). ED500012
The MetLife Survey of the American Teacher, 2006, Expectations and Experiences examines the expectations of teachers upon entering the profession, factors that drive career satisfaction, and the perspectives of principals and education leaders on successful teacher preparation and long-term support. ED496558
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. ED488837
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 role of the school leader in establishing the school’s atmosphere; and relationships among members of the school community. ED505002
The MetLife Survey of the American Teacher, 2002, Student Life – School, Home and Community focuses on student life by asking students and teachers their opinions on what students worry about, whether they participate in activities outside the school day and what parents know about their children’s lives. ED471707
The MetLife Survey of the American Teacher, 2001, Key Elements of Quality Schools explores how teachers, principals and students evaluate their own school on key measures of an effective school environment, such as: teacher quality, school building conditions, standards and expectations and relationships between key groups. ED459152
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. ED502263
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. ED502264
The Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, 1998, Building Family-School Partnerships: View of Teachers and Students 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. ED420648
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. ED504809
The Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, 1996, Students Voice Their Opinions on:
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. ED504813
Their Education, Teachers and Schools—Part II , provides students’ views on their education and where improvements are most needed. ED504814
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. ED504815
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. ED50482
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. ED392783
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. ED378261
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. ED397190
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. ED358082
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. ED354226
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. ED354224
The Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, 1990, New Teachers: Expectations and Ideals-Part I Entering the Classroom examines the views of first-time teachers entering the classroom in the fall of 1990. ED327511
The Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, 1989, Preparing Schools for the 1990s looks back at the changes in education through the 1980’s and looks ahead to the changes teachers say would improve education. ED318706
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 focuses on minority teachers’ satisfaction with teaching and ways to increase their participation in the profession. ED305357
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. ED289841
The Metropolitan Life Survey of American the Teacher, 1986, Restructuring the Teaching Profession explores the current structure of the teaching profession and ways to restructure it.ED283781
The Metropolitan Life Survey of Former Teachers in America, 1986, reflects the views of those who left the teaching profession for other occupations. ED270392
The Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, 1985, Strengthening the Profession examines teachers’ own agenda for educational reform. ED268076
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. ED247230
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. ED334168
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. ED504810
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. New York: ED255512
Also Available:
Preparing Schools for the 1990s: An Essay Collection contains the views of distinguished education leaders including Theodore R. Sizer, Albert Shanker, Michael W. Kirst, and Floretta Dukes McKenzie who discuss recent and future directions in the efforts to improve our public schools. ED400584
For more information about the Survey and printed copies of recent Surveys, contact: MetLife Survey of the American Teacher, 1095 Avenue of the Americas, 40th Floor, New York, NY 10036.
