Survival Is Not Good Enough: Overcoming the Problems of Beginning Teachers.

Research on the first year of teaching reveals consistent experience with particular problems which can be organized into the following categories: culture shock, instruction, students, parents, administrators, fellow teachers, and extensive isolation. The beginning teacher's insecurity about himself and his professional ability serve only to compound the original problems he encounters during his first year. The effects of inadequate introduction to the profession and insufficient support for beginning teachers are that a) 30 percent of personnel trained for teaching never enter the field; b) one out of five beginning teachers reports that he or she does not anticipate teaching five years later; and c) 12 percent of trained teachers leave the profession each year. Suggestions for improvement of this situation include the following: a) teachers and their organizations should consider the inadequate introduction to teaching a priority problem; b) teachers should study the problem and explore various solutions; c) teachers should establish policies and make them part of contract negotiations; and d) plans for the introduction of new teachers to the profession and continuing support throughout their first years should be developed and implemented at the local level. (HMD)