Teachers in Illinois Fublic.Schools By

A study was conducted to.determine,the perceived diffrculties first year physical education teachers encounter and how their perceptions compare to these of teachers in other curricular,,, areas. A questionnaire, sent'to 110 first year physical education teachers in Illinois, achieved a return rate of. 30 percent. The questionnaire sought information on perceived difficulties unique to teaching physical education and difficulties associated with general teacher roles--planner, director-of learning, counselor, inteepreter of culture, link with conmlunity, and Member bf a profession,and community. The highist degrees of difficulty appeared to be managing, classes with large nuMbers and being flegible in using instructional facil.ities. The physical education'teachirs indicated a _wide range of difficulty with the.role of teacher as a link with the community.47 This was comparable to the role perceptions of teachers intlother curricular areas. Recommendations for improving teacher'education programs in these areas wpuld inyolve simulation/eiperience in large group instruction, information on the role of the community and the schools, and experienee with individuals of different cultural/ethnit. backgrounds % Tables present statistical data gathered by the survey. (JD). * Reproductionssupplied by EDWare the best-that.pan be made *, fromthe original dOcument.