Help students gain a realistic understanding of the nature of education and the role of the teacher. Coordinate information about teaching as a profession, employment opportunities, financial assistance options, and educational issues such as professional mobility, diversity, job security, and other matters.
Teaching needs to be viewed as a promising career option.
Particularly needed in the future will be teachers from diverse backgrounds to match and be sensitive to the increasing diversity in our classrooms. During the first half of this century, the National Education Association initiated a Future Teachers of America program, of which local chapters still exist in a number of states. Other similar efforts were made by various state departments notably, by Jan Towslee who, as president of the Association of Teacher Educators, made the development of Future Educators of America a priority. FEA helps to explore teaching as a career option, provides a realistic understanding of teaching, and encourages students from diverse backgrounds to think seriously about the teaching profession. FEA offers a chance to shape our nation's future by shaping the future of the education profession and gives teachers opportunities to examine, clarify, and explain their role in students' lives.