Teacher Personality and the New Social Studies

Abstract

Scales of the Edwards’ Personal Preference Schedule were used to determine if selected social studies teachers possessed attributes of openness which were assumed to be necessary to the implementation of the New Social Studies. Teachers’ perceptions of themselves were checked against student perceptions of these same teachers by use of the Robertson Student Perception of Teacher Attitude Scale (an instrument based on Ann Roe's categorizations of home climates). Data were treated by use of coefficients of correlation, comparison of F-ratios, and comparison of t-ratios. Although not entirely unmixed, the results indicated that the social studies teachers studied could handle the heat and pressure generated in open climates which are necessary in implementing the New Social Studies.