The National Center for Education Information’s "Profiles of Teachers in the U.S., 2011," reports that there are generational differences in the attitudes of teachers toward performance pay, tenure, and unions. I was struck, however, by many of the beliefsshared by teachers of all ages. Both alternatively certified and traditionally prepared teachers want "more autonomy in what and how they teach." (The number of teachers agreeing with that statement increased from 72% in 2005 to 78% in 2009.) The NCEI also reported "nearly all (96-98 percent) teachers surveyed in 1990, 1996, 2005 and 2011 agree that greater participation in decision-making at all levels would make teaching more a profession." Last but not least, the profile also noted, "almost all the comments written in by numerous survey respondents were expressions of strong
