STUDY ON TEACHERS' BELIEFS ABOUT TEACHING

Teachers have strong beliefs about the role of education in general and about the nature of teaching and learning in particular. Beliefs have a key role in teachers' professional development, considering that the changes in teaching practice are the result of change in teachers' teaching beliefs. The sources of these beliefs are variate, the most important ones are the experiences as pupil and student, teaching experiences, and the gathered knowledge and practice by preparing for a teaching career. Teachers' beliefs are usually difficult to change, and sometimes the classroom environment prevents teachers to put into practice their changed beliefs. This paper presents the results of an investigation among teachers participating on a master's program in education. The research tool was Teacher's Survey: Combined Versions 1-4 Part J, published by Becker and Anderson in 1998. The obtained results show the conservation of a number of beliefs from the beginning of their teaching career even for teachers with medium or large teaching experience. Some of the beliefs remain unchanged even if the teachers have participated in different courses and training sessions.