What Makes Them Happy With Teaching in Rural China?

• In Event: Sheraton Roundtable Session 39
  In Roundtable Session: Teacher Stress and Emotions: Lifting Burdens and Promoting Job Satisfaction

Abstract

Through a multi-disciplinary lens, this paper proposed a conceptual framework of rural teacher SWB encompassing individual, family and school factors. By applying two-level modeling technique to a survey data across 10 provinces, this paper explored what made rural teachers happy. The results suggested that compensation and promotion played important roles in determining rural teacher SWB. Compared with absolute income, relative income matters more, and compared with senior rank, administrative power matters more. Furthermore, opportunities for professional development is critical to increase rural teacher SWB, marriage is great relief to the private life of rural teachers rather than having children, and smaller class size is a better release to the heavy burden of rural teachers than shorter work hours.

Author

• Yipeng Tang, Capital Normal University