*****************
* Taiwan *
*****************

Teaching Profession & Education Reform
--------------------------------------
1. Teacher education and professional
development has been adopted as
one of the 12 priorities in a
Strategic Plan for Education
Reform, 1999-2003.
2. Teacher involvement is key to the
success of education reform, being
promoted through dialogue, on-line
communication, and improved
teaching environment and services.

Current Challenges
------------------
1. Continued implementation of
policies and programs of Teachers
Education Act (1994)
2. Emerging need for a teacher
licensing system

Recruitment
-----------
Full government subsidy offered
to some students who are willing
to teach in high-need areas for 4
years

Preparation and Licensing
-------------------------
4-year training program, one-year
practical teaching plus passing
qualification review

Induction
---------
First year practical teaching with a
mentoring program

Professional Development
------------------------
1. Opportunities available at local
teacher in-service training centers,
normal universities, teachers
colleges and universities offering
teacher education programs.
2. A minimum of 18 hours of training
each semester or an accumulation
of 90 hours within five years
required

Teaching and Learning
---------------------
Large class instruction, prone to
banking concept approach

Salaries and Status
-------------------
1. 12-month pay plus one and a half
months pay for year-end bonus
2. High public respect (e.g. Teachers'
Day)
3. No income tax for elementary and
middle school teachers

Reform Initiatives
------------------
1. Expanding and evaluating
diversified teacher-education
programs
2. Implementing practical teaching
program for prospective teachers
3. Establishing life-long learning
opportunities for teachers
4. Planning a multi-tiered licensing

*****************
* United States *
*****************

Teaching Profession & Education Reform
--------------------------------------
1. Teacher education and professional
development has been added as one
of the eight National Education
Goals in 1994.

2. Teachers are partners in education
reform, being involved through
Goals 2000 Teacher Forum, Teacher
Leadership Forum, and appointment
of a National Teacher of the Year as
the Education Secretary's advisor
on teaching.

Current Challenges
------------------
1. Heightened public focus on teacher
quality
2. Teacher shortage—2.2 million
teachers needed for the next 10
years

Recruitment
-----------
Teaching fellowships offered to
recruit people to high-poverty
schools, with requirement
recipients must agree to teach 3
years

Preparation and Licensing
-------------------------
4-year training program including
one semester practical teaching with
a state certification exam

Induction
---------
New teachers often on their own

Professional Development
------------------------
1. Opportunities available in most of
nation's school districts with
limited effects on teaching and
student achievement.
2. Quality and availability of
professional development vary
widely across states

Teaching and Learning
---------------------
Small class instruction, prone to
problem-posing approach

Salaries and Status
-------------------
1. 9-month pay, perhaps distributed
over 12 months (average earned
$38611 in 1996-97)
2. low public respect
3. Ordinary taxing regulations apply

Reform Initiatives
------------------
1. Toughening standards for teacher-
education programs
2. Studying and improving current
teacher testing
3. Creating a uniform three-tiered
licensing system
4. Adopting a new and developing
concept of knowledge and skill-
based pay