A study of teachers' work values and implications for teacher agency

Abstract

This study explores the work values of General and Special education teachers, with the aim of "taking a snapshot" of some of the value dimensions related to the teaching profession and correlated with the exercise of teacher agency. In particular, the use of the Work Values Questionnaire allowed us to investigate the dimensions of openness to change and conservation, as related to the teacher's role as an "agent of change," the dimension of self-enhancement, as related to the need for professional development, and the dimension of self-transcendence, as related to the themes of collaboration among teachers and care for colleagues. The teachers involved in this study show high levels in the dimensions of self-transcendence and openness to change and low scores in the dimensions of conservation and self-enhancement. There are also some significant differences between groups of teachers, but these should be viewed with caution given the particular nature of the sampling strategies. This research also suggests teacher attitudes and beliefs, understood as a set of ideas and value orientations that influence decision-making and action, as a relevant means for a better understanding of relevant aspects of General and Special education teachers' agency.