The Identification of Successful Teachers of Mentally or Physically Handicapped Children

Abstract

To accomplish the purpose of identifying and quantifying characteristics which contribute to successful student teaching of mentally and physically handicapped children, five dimensions of human behavior were investigated. Three characteristic patterns of successful student teaching experiences emerged from the investigation. The successful student teachers (a) were well adjusted, emotionally stable, and able to encounter difficult special class situations; (b) possessed physical energy, vitality, and enthusiasm necessary to meet special classroom demands; (c) obtained high scores on measures of scholastic achievement and ability.