Introduction

Teachers represent an important occupational group in society in the sense that it is widely recognized that the nature and functioning of any school system largely depends upon the characteristics of those employed as teachers. In the United States the most famous studies are those by W. Waller on the sociology of teachers and teaching, Howard S. Becker’s study of the careers of a small sample of Public school teachers in Chicago, and Dan Lortie’s sociological portrait of the American school teacher. The main study in New Zealand on teachers’ careers places particular emphasis on the promotion and careers of women teachers. It is speculated that one of the main ways of achieving a deeper understanding of the behaviour, perceptions and occupational culture of school teachers as an occupational group is to study promotion and career patterns in teaching. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.