The purpose of this study was to discover the dissatisfactions for Australian beginning physical education (PE) teachers. Qualitative data yielded five main categories underpinning teacher dissatisfaction: lack of status, repetitive nature of PE work, limited decision making, personal and professional surveillance, and unprofessional staff-room…

Survival analysis was used to examine and follow the career paths of 6,642 special education teachers hired in Michigan and North Carolina between 1972 and 1983. Educators most likely to leave teaching included those serving students with speech, hearing, or vision disabilities; teachers with high test scores; and teachers paid comparatively low…

Examined success in first-year teaching, using observations and interviews conducted over a school year, to describe a new physical education teacher's experiences. Results revealed several factors which impacted success, some related to preservice preparation, others to school context, and others to the new teacher taking an active role in the…

Data from two panel studies, the 1993 to 1995 nationwide Schools and Staffing Survey and the Teacher Follow-Up Survey, as well as a 1998-1999 survey of teachers in one western state are used to examine the influence of variables related to demographic characteristics, work assignment, effectiveness, social support, and school management on the…

Research addressing attraction and selection of employees within the public school setting seems to indicate that the higher a school's student achievement the more likely a potential job candidate is to assess a position at that school favorably. However, the validity of this finding has failed to be assessed with "real teachers" accepting actual…

This paper reviews the research literature on new teacher mentoring, focusing on issues of definition, why teachers quit, and the effects of mentoring on retention. Conclusions call for more scientific studies on the relationship between mentoring and retention, more research on the relation between mentoring and other educational outcomes, and a…

This information brief explains the State of Minnesota statutory provisions that affect the employment rights of K-12 public school teachers in Minnesota. It describes the required probationary period, the conditions of continuing employment for those teachers who successfully complete the probationary period, and the procedures that must be…

This study explored the elements in the school environment which predict beginning teachers' burnout at the end of the first year of teaching. Two surveys were administered to 45 first-year teachers, one in the fall semester and the other several weeks before the end of the school year. The surveys queried the teachers about their current working…

The experiences of a first-year teacher of students with mild mental retardation are described from the perspective of that teacher. The enormous burdens that can be placed on new teachers in difficult situations are highlighted and implications are discussed for teacher educators, interpersonal relationships, and the role of special education.…

This paper relates the author's experience with a preservice teacher at Chicago State University. Ms. Young was a bright, intelligent student who demonstrated a high level of skill and enthusiasm for the profession of teaching--so high that she was asked to address the graduating body of student teachers with the notion that her ideals would…

This mixed methods study gathered information about the experiences of beginning special education teachers, their systems of support, and their intent to continue their careers in the field. Individual open-ended interviews were conducted with 8 first and second year special education teachers to obtain their perceptions of their first year of…

This article discusses preparing teachers to teach in rural Alaska. An anecdote illustrates how outsiders who come to work in rural Alaska get into trouble because they are unprepared for conditions unique to the North. These conditions end up being viewed as impediments rather than opportunities. The same is true for the field of education. Of…

Induction of beginning teachers has become a significant issue in education for several reasons: teacher retention, personal and psychological assistance to beginning teachers, assessment, reform, and academic curiosity. This study examined school district induction practices in the province of British Columbia (Canada). The objectives of the…

A survey was conducted of faculty members at the 19 campuses of California State University regarding what the beginning teacher should know and be able to do. The resulting profile of characteristics of effective beginning teachers is presented in this document, focusing on nine areas of knowledge, skills, and attitudes. These areas are:…

This report is based upon the views and opinions of 2,670 students and 137 teachers in high schools and middle schools in four school districts in California. Quotes from students and teachers are used as illustrations, and as reminders of the human dimension to the schools' problems and successes. The report is divided into sections representing…