Economic Recession and Quality of Education: Experiences of 3336 Canadian Teachers

Abstract

A sample of 3336 teachers from across Canada described the current socioeconomic conditions of their students, schools, and local communities and indicated the frequencies with which they observed particular students' problems (personal, economic-related, discipline), and the adequacy of school facilities, programs, and resources. They also reported how these had changed over a 2-yr. period. Poorer economic conditions (more fathers unemployed, higher current unemployment rates) were significantly related to students' more frequent problems and less adequate facilities, resources, and programs. Deterioration (more frequent problems, less adequate facilities and programs) was consistently related to perceived impact of the economic recession.