Factors Related to High School Students' Interest in Teaching as a Profession

A study was conducted to provide educators with information about reasons why college bound high school students are or are not interested in teaching as a career. Data collected from responses to questionnaires completed by 4,349 students were analyzed. Implications discussed in this report include: (1) The number of students expressing interest in becoming teachers is more than adequate to meet future needs; however, whether or not they are the best qualified or most committed is open to question; (2) Women will continue to make up the largest proportion of teachers; (3) Knowledge and skill in a subject area, interest in a subject area, and a desire to work with children or young adults are important factors in an interest in becoming a teacher; (4) Prestige and recognition, working conditions, friend or relative who is a teacher, and cost of education are not important factors to those expressing high interest in teaching; (5) Higher salaries are essential to attracting people into teaching; and (6) Attempts to attract people into teaching should take into account differences in interest which may be related to gender. Copies of the questionnaires are appended. (JD)