American Teachers' Continuing Education: Historical Development And Inspiration

In the 21st century, teachers' continuing education is greatly needed as the economy and technology of the society are developing and changing rapidly. Influenced by lifelong education, teachers' continuing education has become essential for the growth of teachers. Research and reform on teachers' continuing education now is unavoidable because of the specialization of teachers' profession.From the 20th century, all kinds of reform plans have been made to improve the system of teachers' continuing education by most countries in the world, among which American reform is the most impressive. Therefore, the author chose U.S.A, who is in lead of teachers' continuing education in the world, as the object of research in order to use it for the reference for teachers' continuing education in China. In this article, on the basis of analysis and presentation of the history and future intendancy of American teachers' continuing education, the author reveals its problems, pursues its developmental principles, draws lessons from it and finally, proposes its inspirations for Chinese teachers' continuing education.In the part of preface, there is an introduction of the background and present state of American teachers' continuing education. There is a presentation of the aim, theoretical meaning and realistic value of the topic. There is a summary of its characteristics and its problems. Also, there is a revelation of some defects in previous research work.Section I is " the Definition and the Structure of the Aims". The author introduces and analyses various definition of continuing education at home and abroad and brings out a redefinition. A historical clue is found for the changes of names of teachers' continuing education, and their inter-links. As a referential system, the structure of aims and developmental characteristics of worldwide teachers' continuing education areintroduced.In section II, "Historical Development of American Teachers' Continuing Education", historical development of American teachers' continuing education is carded. The author summarizes and analyses its characteristics and its developmental causes in three historical stages, including its rising in 1850s, its growth during the period from 1850s to World War II and its further development from World War II to the present.In section III, "Present Operation State and Operation Forms of American Teachers' Continuing Education", the author presents the administrative management, professional management and staff management in American teachers' continuing education, as well as some evidences and evaluation on in-service education for Selective Teachers' Certificate, School-centered Teachers' Training, Educational Master Project, and Teachers' Training in Professional Practice Schools.Section IV is "Developmental Intendancy of American Teachers' Continuing Education". Through understanding teachers' continuing education in U.S.A and that in the world, the author predicts that American teachers' continuing education will be more complex, that training courses will be more various and systematical, that training form will be in closer combination with teaching practice, and that training organization will turn out to be universalized and multiplied.Section V is "Characteristics in the Practice of American Teachers' Continuing Education". By exploring the history and present state of American teachers' continuing education, the author sums it up to seven developmental characteristics, namely, supports from different aspects of society, grantee from the policies and laws, training object turning from utilization to a concept of integrated development of qualities, various forms, content that has definite objects, feasibility and far-sight, strict norms of employment, layer-built financial insurance system.Section VI is "Reference and Inspiration". The author reflects on the advantages and disadvantages of American teachers' continuing education. In connection with the present state of teachers' continuing education in China, that...