EDUCATION AND CAREERS OF REMEDIAL READING SPECIALISTS IN NEW YORK CITY

PRACTICES RELATED TO THE EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND CAREERS OF READING REMEDIATION SPECIALISTS IN NEW YORK CITY ARE REVIEWED. NEW YORK CITY WAS STUDIED BECUASE ITS PROGRAM OF REMEDIATION IS EXPANDING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF LARGE NUMBERS OF DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN, MANY OF WHOM ARE SEVERELY RETARDED IN READING. THE STUDY INDICATED THAT NEW YORK CITY REQUIRES NO ADVANCED EDUCATION DEGREES IN THIS FIELD AND DOES NOT OFFER ADDITIONAL SALARY FOR ADVANCED PREPARATION. SPECIAL POSITIONS SUCH AS CORRECTIVE READING TEACHERS, READING IMPROVEMENT TEACHERS, DISTRICT CONSULTANTS, AND READING COUNSELORS ARE FILLED WITH CLASSROOM TEACHERS WHO ARE UNTRAINED AS SPECIALISTS. LOCAL UNIVERSITIES OFFER HIGHER DEGREES FOR READING SPECIALISTS, BUT, BECAUSE OF SALARY DIFFERENTIALS OFFERED ELSEWHERE, TRAINED PERSONNEL SEEK EMPLOYMENT ELSEWHERE. TABLES AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. THIS PAPER WAS PRESENTED AT THE TENTH ANNUAL CONGRESS OF THE INTER-AMERICAN SOCIETY OF PSYCHOLOGY (LIMA, PERU, APRIL 2-6, 1966). (MC)