The Ivory Tower: Myth or Reality?

Teacher educators often are criticized because it is felt that they live in an ivory tower and are out of touch with the current realities of public schools. This paper describes how physical education teacher educators perceive their relationship with public school professionals. Fifteen participan...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of teaching in physical education 1990-01, Vol.9 (2), p.95-105
Main Author: Williamson, Kay M.
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Teacher educators often are criticized because it is felt that they live in an ivory tower and are out of touch with the current realities of public schools. This paper describes how physical education teacher educators perceive their relationship with public school professionals. Fifteen participants were interviewed from both university and college settings, eight women and seven men. They were interviewed on three occasions, each interview lasting from 60 to 90 minutes. A common thread connecting the experiences of the participants was their awareness of an implicit hierarchy between the status of individuals employed in schools and those in universities. This creates a social barrier that teachers and professors alike must confront if they are to achieve functional parity or any degree of mutual comfort in collaborative relationships.
ISSN:0273-5024
1543-2769
DOI:10.1123/jtpe.9.2.95