What about the education of history teachers? An entangled history of academic and educational cultures
Preparation of future teachers is a key component in societies strategies for the future – and frequently under both debate and reform. This study investigates outcome from the point of view of newly graduated teachers opinions on their period of training. The study is based upon a questionnaire to all teacher students (n=7856) in Sweden two years after graduation. Education of history teachers is compared with preparation of teachers in other subjects and other teacher degrees. This national case study is analyzed in relation to international studies on students learning in higher education (Pascarella & Terenzini, (1991), Arum & Roksa, (2011) as well as to studies on academic cultures and traditions (Becher & Trowler 2001, Biesta 2011). Questions addressed are: How does students perceive the balance between and outcome of studies in content knowledge, pedagogical content knowledge and the wider preparation for a teaching career? How successful are teacher students training in areas like teaching history in relation to democracy, values etc.? What are the differences between preparation in different subjects, at different types of higher education institutions and being prepared to teach a subject or as a class teacher?