A field study involving beginning teachers in elementary schools documents a hesitation by beginning teachers to ask for assistance and a hesitation by experienced teachers to…
Abstract
A field study involving beginning teachers in elementary schools documents a hesitation by beginning teachers to ask for assistance and a hesitation by experienced teachers to offer it. Reasons given by both beginning and experienced teachers for this apparent barrier to professional consultation suggest that the beginners fear being seen as incompetent and their experienced colleagues fear being seen as interfering. This barrier is related to the more general work situation of the elementary teacher, with its high emphasis on autonomy in the selection and implementation of teaching methodologies.