Manual Training Teachers and other Teachers—A Comparison of Their Perceptions and Satisfactions and a Commentary

Abstract

This paper reports on an investigation into fourteen Queensland high schools with instruments measuring perceptions of school climate, bureaucratization, satisfaction and professionalism. The factor scores of manual training teachers and those of teachers of general subjects are compared and five significant differences found. Manual training teachers believe less in the importance of autonomy and more in the importance of service. They perceive in their schools more evidence of leadership and more opportunities for participation in decision-making and they are more satisfied with their colleagues than are other teachers in the schools. The relative lack of supervision they experience appears to be “a healthy neglect”.