An analysis of music teachers' attitudes towards music teaching in relation to the types of communities in which they teach
Date of Completion
January 1990
Keywords
Music|Education, Music|Education, Educational Psychology
Degree
Ph.D.
Abstract
The study measured the attitudes of Massachusetts music teachers towards their jobs and employment conditions and related their attitudes to the type of Massachusetts community in which the music teacher worked. The study was divided into two phases. Phase one consisted in developing an Attitude Towards Music Teaching (ATMT) attitudinal measuring instrument. This instrument was constructed and validated to measure music teachers' perceptions of their contentment, competency, financial status, and social status. Phase two measured Massachusetts music teacher attitude with respect to seven Kinds Of Community as defined by the Massachusetts Department of Education.^ The data generated from the questionnaires were submitted to a one way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). No statistical difference was shown to exist among music teachers' attitudes with respect to the kinds of communities in which they worked.^ Three findings surfaced from the study. First, results point to the possibility that the working environment of the music teacher may not have a great impact on the teacher's job related attitudes. Second, Massachusetts music teachers possess a singular attitude towards their jobs. Third, the direction (positive or negative) of Massachusetts music teachers' attitudes is mixed.^ An attitudinal profile of Massachusetts music teachers has emerged. The contentment scores suggest that the school day is mildly pleasant for these music teachers. The competency scores have shown that they feel quite skilled in professional and music education, music theory, and music history. The financial status scores have demonstrated that they feel that their pay is not quite adequate to meet their financial needs. The social status scores have revealed that they feel that other people in their communities consider their jobs of be of negative social import. ^
Recommended Citation
Tobin, Robert Nicholas, "An analysis of music teachers' attitudes towards music teaching in relation to the types of communities in which they teach" (1990). Doctoral Dissertations. AAI9102043.
https://digitalcommons.lib.uconn.edu/dissertations/AAI9102043