Teacher Expectancies

Originally published in 1985, Teacher Expectancies is a study of teacher expectancy effects on children’s learning and school performance. In the mid-1980s there were renewed concerns over the quality of education received by children in the US. Regardless of the events of the times, parents want the best for their children, including the best possible education. For most parents educational quality is seen as a function of the role of the teacher. Hence the teacher becomes an easy scapegoat for the poor performance of children in the educational system. Several articles in the popular press at the time indicated that if parents could get teacher to have higher expectancies for their children, they would achieve at higher levels. One purpose of this volume was to examine the relevant literature, theoretical, methodological, and practical in an attempt to present the evidence on this issue. A second purpose of this compilation was to provide a summary of knowledge available on the topic of teacher expectancy effects. A relatively new area of study at the time the literature had grown and was ripe for an authoritative summary of the state of the field. Today it can be read in its historical context.