TO BE OR NOT TO BE: ACCOUNTABILITY - THE CONGRUENCE BETWEEN PUBLIC'S DEMAND AND TEACHERS' CONCEPT

The study is dealing with teachers' concept of accountability. It is based on a survey carried out among 50 elementary school teachers from Israel's Central District. The study covered three different domains – the academic domain, the behavioral domain, and the ethical domain. All in all, the study encompassed eleven different categories: Four in the first domain, three in the second domain, and another four in the third domain. The study's point of departure was the high complexity of Israeli society and the high pressures to which it is subjected. Bearing this in mind, the research question was to what extent would Israeli teachers embrace accountability in the three domains; to what extent would they be committed to instilling the values included in the eleven categories. The main research finding is the congruence between society's expectations and teachers' accountability and commitment.