Attitude of Secondary Student-Teachers under Jurisdiction of Bangalore University towards Teaching Practice

Teaching practice occupies a key position in the programme of teacher education. It is the practical use of teaching methods, strategies, principles, techniques and practical training and practice or exercise of different activities of daily school life. Practice teaching sometimes becomes a demoralizing and sometimes very frightening experience for the student teachers. In this context this study was identifies both positive and negative attitude of student teachers during practice teaching and based on the finding of this study, measures were suggested on how to improve practice teaching.

in effective classroom activities. Today the secret of America's greatness emerged from the classroom. Professors place high premium on teaching practice because it enables the students' practicalize all the theoretical teachings on the educations principles and practice. Taneja (2000) pointed out that number of term ,such as the practice teaching, field studies, infield experience, school based experience or internship are used. In view of this, teaching practice occupies a key position in the programme of teacher education and also it is common professional element in preparation of teachers. It is the first official opportunity for trainee teacher to involve in actual teaching experience. Ashraf (1999) noted that the term teaching practice embraces all the learning experience of student teachers in schools. Marais and Meier (2004) pointed that the term practice teaching represents the range of experiences to which student-teachers are exposed whom they work in classrooms and schools.
Teaching practice is an important component of becoming a teacher. It grants student teachers experience in the actual teaching and learning environment. Teaching practice is the name of the preparation of student teachers for teaching by practical training. It is the practical use of teaching methods, teaching strategies, teaching principles, teaching techniques and practical training and practice or exercise of different activities of daily school life. One of the main objectives of teaching practice, as Salzillo and Van Fleet (1977-28) point out is that encouraging an appropriate professional socialization process for the future teacher. However despite its importance, Killen and Steyn (2001) note that teaching practice sometimes becomes a demoralizing and sometimes very frightening experience for the student teachers?
Several studies have been conducted on student teacher's experience and anxieties during teaching practice (Ngidi and Sibaya 2003, marais of meier 2004) to mention but two. However a review of the literature indicates that there are limited studies that have been conducted regarding ways in which students experience during teaching practice influence their perception of and attitudes towards teaching practice. In this study identifies both the positive and negative experience of student teachers during teaching practice and based in the finding of this study, measures were suggested on how to improve practice teaching.

Statement of the problem
The problem chosen for the study may be stated as "Attitude of Student-Teachers towards Teaching Practice in the Bangalore University"

Objectives of the Study
The objectives of this study is to ascertain the attitude of the students in colleges of Education in Bangalore University towards teaching practice as an impetus for their professionalization. Specifically, the study sought to: 1. Determine the attitude of the student teachers towards teaching practice.
2. Identify the problems facing practical teaching and it's related activities in Bangalore university. 3. Identify strategies for improvement in the attitude of the student teachers.

Research Questions
1. What is the attitude of the student teachers towards teaching practice? 2. What are the problems facing practical teaching and its related activities in Bangalore university? 3. What are the strategies for improving the attitude of student teachers towards teaching practice?

Design of the study
The design of the study is a descriptive survey which attempts to collect data from members of a population in order to determine the current status of the population.

Are of the Study
The study was carried out in colleges of education in Bangalore university

Population of Study
The target population comprised of all the students in secondary teacher education level in Bangalore University who were on teaching practice, all the principals and teachers of the school used for teaching practice.

Sample and Sampling Techniques
The sample were selected through Simple balloting was used to choose 50 students from each of the three colleges of education who were on teaching practice, 10 principals and 20 teachers of the schools used for teaching practice. The total sample used for the study was 180.

Tools for Data Collection
The student Teachers and Teaching Practice (STTP) attitude scale designed and standardized by A.U.NwanekeZi, N.J. Okali and Sam.A.Mezieobi's has been used in the research study for the collection of the data. The tool was face validated by two experts in Education Science and Education Foundation. The reliability of 0.87 (87%) was calculated using Cronbach Alpha technique. This value was deemed appropriate for the study.

Method of Data Analysis
Descriptive data analysis (mean and decision) were used to answer the research questions. A mean of 2.50 and above indicates agreement with the item statement while a mean of 2.49 and below indicate disagreement. For ease of analysis of the research question 1, a mean of 2.50 and above was regarded as positive attitude while 2.49 and below was regarded as negative attitude.
In research question 2 and 3, a mean of 2.50 was taken as "agree" 2.49 and below as "disagree".

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The results were presented in line with the research questions In table 1, the mean ratings of the secondary teacher education level students show that the respondents scored up to 2.50 and above showing that the y have positive attitude in all the listed items.

Table 1 (b): Mean rating on the observed attitude of the secondary teacher education level students towards Teaching Practice by the Practicing Schools S/No Observed attitude of the students towards Teaching Practice
The following attitude were observed in the students during Teaching Practice  Lack of transportation fare on the part of the student teachers 2.61 Agree 30

Principal Teachers
Inaccessibility of some school locations by students and lecturers 2.65 Agree Table 2 reveals that the mean ratings of the student's shows that the respondents scored up to 2.50 and above, showing that all the respondents agreed that all the listed items are the problems facing teaching practice. Students should be briefed before reporting to their school locations 3.16 Table 3 reveals that the mean responses of the secondary teacher education level students reached to the acceptable mean of 2.50 and above. This is an indication that all the designated strategies should be adopted for improvement in the attitude of the students on teaching.

DISCUSSION OF THE FINDINGS
In the table 1, the mean ratings of the respondents secondary teacher education level students, the principals and teachers indicated generally that the students have positive attitude towards teaching practice except that some would not report promptly to their school locations and sometimes they would not be punctual to school. and also sometimes they would not resourceful in ability to teach in school. This might be due to inaccessibility of some school locations, far distance and sometimes traffic congestion in town and also teaching aid due to inaccessibility of some colleges of education and schools.
In Table 2, the mean ratings of the secondary teacher education level students indicated agreement that all the listed items are problem facing teaching practice in the Bangalore University.
In response to research question 3, the respondents agreed that all the stipulated strategies would be adopted to ensure positive attitude by the students towards teaching practice. This shows that the students are unanimous in their mean ratings. One could therefore conclude that if all the