The Values in the Work of Teachers – in the Light of Empirical Research

Abstract

The article presents statistical analysis of survey results on the value of the work of teachers. The study was quantitative conducted in late 2014 and 2015 for different types of schools in the area of Świętokrzyskie and neighboring voivodeships. We used a questionnaire about aspirations of life, values and needs of teachers and a personal autobiographical statement on „The meaning and dignity of my life and work”. In total, there were collected 405 surveys were collected and 112 posts of teachers in three age groups (generational): • Young teachers (up to 35 years of age) (141 questionnaires and 35 posts), • Teachers in middle age (36–50) (154 questionnaires and 39 posts), • Teachers elderly (over 51 years) (110 questionnaires and 38 posts). An important theme in the studies undertaken is an attempt to compare the values of social life and professional currently working teachers with their image 25 years ago. Because just at that time – at the turn of the year 1989–1990 – there was carried out the same test on the same site, the results of which were published in my book Generations of teachers (1993). The second plane benchmarking closely linked to the previous one, has a generational dimension. In this respect it is important to know how teachers perceive their role, social life and work, and the we appreciate the value of teachers from different generations whose habitus and the fate of life and work shaped the different socio-political, cultural and economic conditions.