Teaching Special Needs Populations and Teacher Job Satisfaction

Abstract

Teachers' perceptions of their jobs are strongly related to their perceptions of their students. This article confirms what one might expect: Working with students who are gifted and talented positively predicts job satisfaction, whereas working with students who have learning difficulties has a negative effect. Yet teachers 'self-reports of general job satisfaction reverse when asked about how the reality of their teaching experience compares to ideal conditions. This has clear implications for urban school districts involved in massive mainstreaming efforts. Teacher preparation and the impending merger of general and special education are discussed.