Changing U.S. Political Climate Influence on the Professional Outlook of Prospective Teachers

Abstract

The election of Donald Trump as President of the United States has changed a great deal in the United States; teacher education is no different. The aim of this exploratory study was to gauge pre-service teachers’ confidence in relation to factors associated with their chosen profession in the midst of the changing political climate. Teacher candidates (n=98) at a mid-western land-grant institution completed a survey about their past, present, and future perceptions and confidence related to the role of government in education, physical and socialemotional safety in schools, and public perceptions of the role of educators. One major theme that emerged from the results was that pre-service teachers reported a decrease in confidence about the role of the government in education under the current presidential administration. Also, despite their chosen field of study, these pre-service teachers expressed concerns about a lack of respect and support for the teaching profession and the physical safety and emotional well-being of students in schools. These findings have implications for teacher preparation in the present and for the future.