Why do we have such a limited number of students from diverse cultural backgrounds seeking teaching careers? I am particularly asking about teaching in special ed in countries like the US where teachers are predominantly females from middle class backgrounds. Thanks.
Hi Rama,
Is this something you might find helpful to take one step further?
Best Heiner
http://www.leeds.ac.uk/educol/documents/177814.pdf
http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ693730.pdf
Hi Rama,
Is this something you might find helpful to take one step further?
Best Heiner
http://www.leeds.ac.uk/educol/documents/177814.pdf
http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ693730.pdf
Dear Heiner,
Thank you for the articles! These are indeed great to start with!
My wife is a special ed teacher. She is originally from Kenya. She did a field study on special ed in Kenya for her PhD. I think an important factor is cultural attitudes towards children with special needs in developing countries. If more could be done to encourage similar research then this world have a positive impact on the cultural diversity of those teaching special ed.
Since special education teaching is concerned with students who have physical or emotional or mental disabilities, therefore this requires teachers with deep compassion & immense patience. Females, in general, have these attributes in a higher tone than males & they do have the skills to deal with special needs children. By the same token, female nurses are larger in number than male nurses in hospitals. Those, who think that men are superior to women, have here a clear evidence which refutes their persuasions.
Nizar thanks for pointing out the gendered nature of human traits and how they may affect career choices. But there is evidence in literature to show that these distinctions are problematic. This article points out how societal/cultural constructions such as these affect male teachers in elementary schools.
Hansen, P., & Mulholland, J. A. (2005). Caring and elementary teaching the concerns of male beginning teachers. Journal of Teacher Education, 56(2), 119-131.
Hi Rama,
In the UK context there are several studies led by Sue Pearson on the recruitment, induction and retention of Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCOs) in schools:
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261569185_I_will_be_fighting_even_more_for_pupils_with_SEN_SENCOs%27_role_predictions_in_the_changing_English_policy_context
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263654514_The_recruitment_induction_and_retention_of_special_educational_needs_coordinators_%28SENCOs%29
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/270821985_Increasingly_broad_shoulders_The_changing_role_of_SENCOs , and
- PEARSON, S. (2008). Deafened by silence or by the sound of footsteps? An investigation of the recruitment, induction and retention of special educational needs coordinators (SENCOs) in England. Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs. 8, 96-110.
These studies, based on national surveys in the UK, address some of the motivations of SEN teachers, and their routes into SEN careers.
Article ‘I will be “fighting” even more for pupils with SEN’: SENCOs...
Technical Report The recruitment, induction and retention of special educatio...
Conference Paper "Increasingly broad shoulders": The changing role of SENCOs
Rama:
Just adding what's available on RG:
https://www.researchgate.net/publicliterature.PublicLiterature.search.html?type=keyword&search-keyword=encourage+individuals+from+diverse+backgrounds+into+special+education+teaching+careers&search-abstract=&search=Search
Best regards,
Debra
Hello Rama:
The Special Education Profession is taking such a hit from politicians, economists, parents, administration, and other stakeholders, that even those who have upper degrees in Special Ed. (as myself) are wondering why we decided to swim, naked and alone against the tide of frustration and insolence. Maybe that has something to do with it?
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