The Purdue Teacher Opinionaire

Prepared by Ralph R. Bentley and Averno M. Rempel

This instrument is designed to provide you the opportunity to express your opinions about your
work as a teacher and various school problems in your particular school situation. There are no right or
wrong responses, so do not hesitate to mark the statements frankly. Please do not record your name on
this document. Read each statement carefully. Then indicate whether you (4) disagree, (3) probably
disagree, (2) agree, (1) highly agree with each statement. Circle your answers using the following scale:

Item Disagree Probably Agree Highly

# Disagree Agree
1 The work of individual faculty members is 4 2
3 1
appreciated and commended by our principal
2 Teachers feel free to criticize administrative 4 3 2 1
policy at faculty meetings called by our
principal.
3 Our principal shows favoritism in his relations 4 3 2 1
with the teachers in our school.
4 Teachers in this school are expected to do an 4 3 2 1
unreasonable amount of record keeping and
clerical work.
5 My principal makes a real effort to maintain 4 3 2 1
close contact with the faculty.
6 Community demands upon the teacher’s time 4 3 2 1
are unreasonable.
7 I am satisfied with the policies under which pay 4 3 2 1
raises are granted.
8 My teaching load is greater than that of most of 4 3 2 1
the other teachers in our school.
9 The extra0curricular load of the teachers in our 4 3 2 1
school is unreasonable.
10 Our principal’s leadership in faculty meetings 4 3 2 1
challenges and stimulates our professional
growth.
11 My teaching position gives me the social status 4 3 2 1
in the community that I desire.
12 The number of hours a teacher must work is 4 3 2 1
unreasonable.
13 Teaching enables me to enjoy many of the 4 3 2 1
material and cultural things I like.
14 My school provides me with adequate 4 3 2 1
classroom supplies and equipment.
15 Our school has a well-balanced curriculum. 4 3 2 1
16 There is a great deal of griping, arguing, taking 4 3 2 1
sides and feuding among our teachers.
17 Teaching gives me a great deal of personal 4 3 2 1
 satisfaction.
18 The curriculum of our school makes reasonable 4 3 2 1
provision for student individual differences.
19 The procedures for obtaining materials and 4 3 2 1
services are well defined and efficient.
20 Generally, teachers in our school do not take 4 3 2 1
advantage of one another.
21 The teachers in our school cooperate with each 4 3 2 1
other to achieve common, personal, and
professional objectives.
22 Teaching enables me to make my greatest 4 3 2 1
contribution to society.
23 I love to teach. 4 3 2 1
24 If I could plan my career again, I would choose 4 3 2 1
teaching.
25 I would recommend teaching as an occupation 4 3 2 1
to students of high scholastic ability.
26 If I could earn as much money in another 4 3 2 1
occupation, I would stop teaching.
27 My principal makes my work easier and more 4 3 2 1
pleasant.
28 Keeping up professionally is too much of a 4 3 2 1
burden.
29 Our community makes its teachers feel as 4 3 2 1
though they are a real part of the community.
30 Teaching affords me the security I want in an 4 3 2 1
occupation.
31 My school principal understands and recognizes 4 3 2 1
good teaching procedures.
32 My classes are used as “dumping grounds” for 4 3 2 1
problem students.
33 The lines and methods of communication 4 3 2 1
between teachers and the principal in our school
are well developed and maintained.
34 My teaching load at this school is unreasonable. 4 3 2 1
35 Our principal promotes a sense of belonging 4 3 2 1
among the teachers in our school.
36 My teaching load unduly restricts my 4 3 2 1
nonprofessional activities.
37 I feel that I am an important part of this school 4 3 2 1
system.
38 The competency of the teachers in our school 4 3 2 1
compares favorably with that of teachers in
other schools in which I am familiar.
39 My school provides the teachers with adequate 4 3 2 1
audio-visual aids and projection equipment.
40 I feel successful and competent in my present 4 3 2 1
position.
41 The teachers in our school work well together. 4 3 2 1
42 I am at a disadvantage professionally because 4 3 2 1
 other teachers are better prepared to teach than I
am.
43 As far as I know, the other teachers think I am a 4 3 2 1
good teacher.
44 The “stress and strain” resulting from teaching 4 3 2 1
makes teaching undesirable for me.
45 My principal is concerned with the problems of 4 3 2 1
the faculty and handles these problems
sympathetically.
46 I do not hesitate to discuss any school problem 4 3 2 1
with my principal.
47 Teaching gives me the prestige I desire. 4 3 2 1
48 My teaching job enables me to provide a 4 3 2 1
satisfactory standard of living for my family.
49 The cooperativeness of teachers in our school 4 3 2 1
helps make our work more enjoyable.
50 I am well satisfied with my present teaching 4 3 2 1
position.