I JUST want to share the findings of my research before we hit the peak of the Christmas season. This concerns primarily the teachers and those who have relatives who are about to join the profession. It is interesting to note that five strategies came out as ways of adjustment by beginning teachers. The participants in my study are experienced teachers, meaning teachers who have at least five years of teaching experience. These are teachers who are expected to have passed the period of adjustment. Stages of adjustment are discussed herewith.
Experienced teachers said that they were obedient when they were starting in the service. The first theme is “just say yes.” Participants believe that their young age and their entry-level position say a lot in dealing with other employees to be accepted. They feel like one way of improving their relationship to other teachers is to not refuse when they were asked to do something. The first theme is not only interpreted as obedience to all favors asked by others but an expression of humility and submission to authority.
The second theme is to consult other teachers. Teachers consulted those who they felt like approachable. The support of old teachers did a lot for their adjustment. Some said they were ashamed to talk with others but other teachers would initiate to assist and it helped them to interact with others. This stage is crucial to the adjustment process because the interaction with other teachers developed their relationship with them.
Consultation is another sign that new teachers recognize the knowledge and experience of the teachers after them. However, it should be noted that not all teachers were accommodating. There were many teachers who were not friendly at all. New teachers just do their part and try not to mind the other persons who are not agreeable. It was emphasized how their colleagues’ passion, enthusiasm and support contributed to their sense of belonging, collective responsibility and commitment to teaching.
In the same study it states that “sustained dialogue and interaction amongst colleagues were seen by many as an effective way of building a shared repertoire of expertise and wisdom in their department and/or school.”
Third is to be with a core group/circle of friends. The group or circle of friends was a sort of protection to new teachers. Sometimes teachers would also warn the new teachers who to beware of. Other teachers inform new teachers not to be too lax in sharing personal information to some particular individuals because of trust issues. Friends are a source of support and protection.
New teachers can rely with them. They are not left out of the big group and left to be alone during activities or events. “A tight team” was perceived by many as the moral foundation for the achievement of a strong sense of collective efficacy and professional fulfilment – which contributed to their enhanced capacity to be resilient on every working day (Papatraianou & Le Cornu, 2014).
Fourth is to know the culture of the institution. While consulting with others and being in a group, teachers realized that they have to know the culture of the organization. Culture can also be understood here as the teaching environment, the teachers’ collective attitude, and the school system. The culture or system can be observed and be familiarized through constant interaction with fellow teachers.
Understanding staff room, school and community cultures continues to be an on-going concern for beginning teachers. There is a limit to how much induction manuals can communicate about taken-for-granted norms and rituals that have grown up in a school or faculty communities. Beginning teachers often find themselves unprepared for the politics of the staffroom (Ewing & Sith, 2003).
Finally, it is to go with the flow. I don’t know if this healthy or not but it definitely a step taken by teachers in their adjustment process. ‘Go with the flow’ for one participant is joining activities and invitation of co-teachers when invited. For others, it means joining the activities and programs of the teachers’ learning area department and of the school without complain. It is trying not to be extremely different to them. Beginning teachers must be in their complete uniform or else other teachers will make them the subject of their talks. They should religiously join activities of their learning area department or of the school or else there will be negative consequences.
New teachers face a lot of challenges. In other countries, many of these teachers decide to resign within their 5 years of stay perhaps due to these issues. It is ideal for them, especially our fellow Filipino teachers to give them ideas on how to adjust to keep them motivated in teaching.