Where are They Coming From? Beyond the Demographics of Individuals Seeking an Alternative Route to Mathematics and Science Teacher Licensure

Abstract

Predispositions toward teaching are comprised of more than merely a person's age, gender, content specialization, and ethnicity. This study went beyond examining the basic demographic information of alternative-route teacher candidates to include individuals' views of schooling, childhood, teaching, and curriculum. The purposes of this study were to identify the characteristics of the candidates who applied for an alternative route to certification and to obtain a detailed account of the candidates' perceptions of life, childhood, and schooling; their views of teaching; and their orientations toward curriculum prior to entering an alternative-route program. The demographic and professional characteristics of candidates interested in pursuing a career teaching mathematics and science in a high-poverty, urban school district were examined.