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In this paper, we share findings from a historical investigation into changing expectations regarding teacher conduct as connected to the evolving Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation Code of Ethics and the eventual proclamation of a Government-mandated teacher regulatory board. This study was based on the idea that views of appropriate conduct embedded in ethical codes evolve in relation to shifting societal norms and values. We demonstrate that the tone and content of ethical codes of conduct for Saskatchewan teachers transformed from explicit and concrete to abstract and ambiguous.             Keywords: conduct unbecoming; code of ethics; teacher regulation; teaching profession

Alberta’s educational leaders appeared to be taking united collective action in promoting progressive programs and pedagogy, c. 1920 to 1950. However, there were deep differences in their presuppositions about human nature and the relationship among human beings that shaped their ways of thinking about what students needed to know and how students learned. Utilizing a methodology advocated by R. G. Collingwood, this study reveals these differing presuppositions and argues that three predominant and conflicting ways of thinking among Alberta’s educationists—that is, conservative, liberal, and collectivist—had an invisible but significant impact on their educational reform efforts.RÉSUMÉEntre 1920 et 1950, des spécialistes en éducation albertains ont semblé prendre une action collective en faveur de programmes et d’une pédagogie progressistes. Cependant, de profondes différences dans leurs présuppositions sur la nature humaine et sur les relations entre les individus ont façonné leur conception quant aux connaissances à acquérir et sur la manière dont les élèves apprennent. Cette étude qui s’appuie sur la méthodologie préconisée par de R. G. Collingwood expose ces différentes présuppositions et met en évidence, parmi les spécialistes en éducation, l’existence de trois systèmes d’idées prédominants et conflictuels. Sans être apparentes, les idéologies conservatrice, libérale ou collectiviste ont eu malgré tout un impact sur les réformes envisagées.

In this paper, we argue that teacher education admissions processes would benefit from attending more to prospective teacher candidates’ cognitive frames. We begin with the introduction of a three-stage heuristic for describing teacher education. We then review the literature about constructivist notions of prior learning and teacher education program admissions processes. These processes, we argue, fail to adequately account for candidates’ preconceptions about teaching and learning, which affect their beliefs and understanding. Virtually none of the admissions processes we examined explicitly attempts to map the cognitive frames of applicants to uncover the structure of their ideas about teaching and learning. Teacher education institutions might best concentrate upon candidates’ cognitive frames within two core areas: subject area content knowledge and pedagogical knowledge. These two areas have the greatest potential to influence candidates’ future cognitive frameworks, understandings, and points of reference.            Keywords: teacher education admissions processes; identifying cognitive frames; subject area content knowledge; pedagogical knowledge

Our findings indicate that intergenerational literature circles were sites where multi-layered learning took place for teacher candidates. These adult learners developed a deeper understanding of and how children read, learn concepts and respond to text and they enhanced their understandings of multiple perspectives. Teacher candidates indicated that co-learning in the context of a literature circle helped them in their transformation into professional teachers as they experienced and reflected on learners, learning and teaching/learning strategies. Many revised their definitions of ‘teacher’ as a result of their experiences in intergenerational literature circles.