Page 20 - EdViewptsSpring2020

A Comprehensive Induction Program:

Create a Culture of Learning and Reflection

From the Start

By Brad Davis, Assistant Principal, Sparta Township School District

I sounded horrible when I many of us in that situation would get Research has shown that about 20% of
first picked up a guitar. frustrated, begin to feel defeated, and all new teachers leave the profession
possibly quit?
within the first three years of teaching
I couldn't remember the chord names Teachers who are entering the field for (Cascio, 2009). Other research has
or where my fingers were supposed to the first time are faced with a daunt- shown that 39% of all novice teach-
go. I couldn’t switch between the chords ing task. They are thrown into an ever ers leave the profession within five
fast enough because I had to look at the changing educational system that years. Factors such as stress, fatigue,
fret board constantly to remember which requires them to be responsible and increased accountability, lack of col-
positioning was correct. When I tried to accountable for more and more things, laboration opportunities and feelings
sing and play at the same time I would many of which might even be out of their of isolation have been identified as
struggle to get my hands and fingers to control. They are immediately asked to reasons for this exodus. However, the
keep up with my voice. navigate waters filled with students of all majority of the research suggests that
I practiced a lot and eventually I got ability levels, students with behavioral the main reason for the high attrition
better. It took me a few years, but I issues, students with learning disabili- rate is the lack of support and guidance
even had enough confidence to play in ties, parent e-mails and phone calls, that they experience in their first few
front of people. administrators’ expectations as well as years. (Goldrick, Osta, Barlin, & Burn,
What if, however, I was forced to go colleagues’ expectations. All of these 2012). Teaching for the first time is no
different than learning any other new
on stage in front of an audience that things have an effect on self-efficacy skill. There has to be time and more im-
first time? What if I was forced to go and how they might perceive their level portantly permission to fail and learn in
on stage in front of the same audience of effectiveness. It’s no wonder that an environment that provides compre-
for the next week, every day? How teaching is often called the “Profession hensive and ongoing support. We are
that eats its young (Anhorn, 2008).”

Educational Viewpoints -18- Spring 2020