IDENTIFIERS African Americans

This k.iper examines factors which may impact on recruitment and retention of members of the African-American teaching pool. Data were gathered through questionnaires and interviews administered to prospective and beginning teachers (N=41) to determine background characteristics, reasons for entering the teaching profession, experiences in teacher education programs, actual experiences in student teaching and teaching, and how long they intended to stay in the profession. Results suggest that: (1) recruitment strategies should include reasons for pursuing a teaching career, such as the desire to be a role model, the poor conditions affecting minority communities, and an overall commitment to making a difference in the lives of young people; and (2) efforts should be targeted at the grade school, high school, undergracluate and graduate levels, and also at situations where African-Americans may be working in unsatisfactory careers. Retention requires the profession to listen to the ideas and voices of those African-Americans currently teaching with respect to necessary reforms and strategies to recruit other African-Americans into teaching and retain them once they are there. (LL) AepLoaucLlons suppilea oy huRb are the best tnat can be made from the original document