The effect of visiting committee membership on teacher morale

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of visiting committee membership on teacher morale, as measured by the Purdue Teacher Opinionaire.

Two hundred fifty teachers were selected to receive the PTO during October, 1981, before the initiation of visiting committee activities. Visiting committee participants received an additional administration of the test on the last day of their respective visiting committee evaluations and all study participants received the PTO during May, 1982.

A direct comparison of group means and differences in gain scores between the research groups was made to determine the effect of the independent variables, visiting committee experience and demographic characteristics on teacher morale and the ten factors of morale. Differences in mean scores were tested for significance using t-test and analysis of variance statistical procedures.

The findings of this study appear to justify the following conclusions:

1. Morale scores of secondary school teachers increase during the period of the visiting committee week but decrease as the school year progresses.

2. Previous visiting committee membership influences the gain in morale score experienced at the time of the evaluation week but gains dissipate as the school year progresses.

3. Visiting committee membership does not significantly affect the score on any of the ten morale factors of the PTO except the factor"curriculum issues".

4. A greater loss in morale score is experienced during the course of the school year by teachers with less than ten years teaching experience.

5. Members of visiting committees consider the experience a beneficial professional opportunity and are, generally, satisfied with the present format for the evaluation week.

6. Morale score, as defined by the ten factors of the PTO, may not be the best choice of a dependent variable to determine the lasting benefit that is derived by teachers from participation in a professional activity such as visiting committee membership.