Revista Electrónica de Investigación Educativa

Vol. 8, No. 2, 2006

Problems Faced by Beginning Teachers in Private
Elementary Schools: A Comparative Study
between Spain and Mexico1

Magda Yolanda Cantú Tijerina
mayolacantu@hotmail.com
Comunidad Educativa Tonallí

Solón 680, Country La Silla, C.P. 67173
Guadalupe, Nuevo León, México

Nora Hilda Martínez Sánchez
nmartinez@udem.edu.mx

Departamento de Educación
Universidad de Monterrey

Ave. I. Morones Prieto 4500 pte., C.P. 66238
San Pedro Garza García, Nuevo León, México

(Received: May 5, 2005; accepted for publishing: April 21, 2006)

Abstract

In order to explore the problems faced by beginning teachers in private elementary schools in the Spanish city of Madrid and in the Mexican city of Monterrey, questionnaires were applied to private school teachers just starting out in both cities. The results indicate that in both contexts, as beginners, teachers face problems of an academic, organizational, social, and material and technological nature. However, it stresses the fact that Mexican teachers perceive more problems in all the categories than do their Spanish colleagues. Similarity in the results was found in the category of social problems, which was the one mentioned least by the teachers in both cities. This suggests that the cultural nature of these two countries may be a factor to be considered in connection with fostering beginning teachers’ adaptation process.

Key words: Beginning teachers, elementary education, private education, comparative analysis.

Introduction

Each year, thousands of students earn a degree that enables them to enter the field of teaching in different preschools, primary schools or secondary schools. For Mexico, according to information obtained from the National Association of Universities and Institutions of Higher Education (ANUIES, 2002), 6,765 students were graduated in education in 2000; of these, 515 were from the state of Nuevo Leon. In Spain this year, 36,056 students were studying Educational Sciences; 12,666 finished their studies. In the Madrid region alone, there were 1,139 who were graduated in Education or related fields (National Institute of Statistics, 2003). What kind of experience do these professionals have when they face the task of teaching?

The answer to this question has been widely documented in contexts other than those of Mexico and Spain. For example, Calliari (1990), catalogues the first years of teaching under the title “Lament Of The Beginning Teachers,” which includes questions and statements like: “Why did nobody tell me this before? I didn’t know I had to do this! No, I did not read the manual for the new teachers! I had no idea that teaching was so demanding” (p. 260). More systematically, Dunn (2002) classifies the difficulties faced by novice teachers in four areas: a) problems in the academic area, b) organizational problems, c) social problems, and d) problems having to do with material and technology.

Among the academic problems, Dunn includes issues related with discipline and motivation, evaluation of student work and effective use of different teaching methods and assessment, among others. Regarding organizational problems, she mentions issues concerning the organization and planning of work, including those related to policies and regulations, to the conditions in which the teacher works, and in general, to the guidance and support offered by the institution.

On the other hand, Dunn (2002) highlights those social problems that concern the relationships established with parents/guardians, colleagues, directors and administrators; in addition to the ones linked to students’ cultural and religious diversity. Finally, as problems of material and technology, the author mentions those concerning scholastic and educational resources.

Apparently both the problems of an academic, organizational and social character, and those of material and technology are common to the profession, regardless of the country. In Australia (Ballantyne and Hansford, 1995; Tromans, Daws, Limerick and Brannock, 2001, Carter and Francis, 2001), Portugal (Flores, 2001), Norway (Fredheim, 2000), Great Britain (Brighouse, 1995), Japan (Myint, 1999), and the U.S. (Dewalt and Ball, 1987) the issue has been studied, and in some of these countries programs have been implemented to help beginning teachers in the first years of their professional life. Thus, one would assume that initial training has been unable to meet the demands presented by teaching practice.

The cases of Mexico and Spain, in terms of teacher training, and more specifically of the training of preschool and elementary-school teachers, have marks of differentiation. In Mexico, the teaching degree given by what are known as normal schools, was radically changed in 1984, when it was elevated to a professional B.A. program (Miller, 2001). However, the B.A. in Education existed in Mexico long before, offered by some private universities. To get a bachelor’s degree in both normal schools and universities generally takes four years, with three years of high school as a prerequisite.

In universities the degree received is a BA or BS in Education, while in normal schools the level is specified; for example, one can graduate with a degree in Early Childhood Education or in Elementary Education.

In Spain the profession of teaching has been linked to universities since 1972 (De Finkel, 1991). Those interested in preparing to teach must complete four years of junior high school, two years of high school (as for any major), and take a selection examination, which is a requirement for every college student.

The Law of General Organization of the Spanish educational system establishes that those interested in becoming teachers must have three years’ training, and must choose among various specialties, such as children’s education, special education and language, among others (De Finkel, 1991). Teacher-training in early childhood education and primary education is considered as the first year, i.e., the degree obtained is that of teacher with different specialties, and is recognized as a certificate (Organization of Ibero-American States, 2003).

In August of 1995 an educational reform declared that teachers with a certificate, such as those described above, if they want a BA degree, must take three more years of professional education in the fields of psychology, education or educational psychology through a course designated as a bridging course. Today, this option has been modified, and universities are asking students to decide right from the beginning of their professional studies, whether they are going to study the three years of specialty training in teaching, or the six years of undergraduate work in the branches already mentioned.

Given the differences in teacher training in these two countries, will there also be differences in the problems of beginning teachers (BT)? This question encapsulates the purpose of this paper. The aim is then to explore the problems faced by BT in the preschool and elementary levels, specifically in first, second and third grades, in two different contexts: Spain and Mexico.

It is expressed as a comparative study of BT in private schools in the city of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon (Mexico), and in the city of Madrid (Spain). Specifically, it seeks to answer the questions: a) What problems are faced by novice teachers in Monterrey and in Madrid? b) Are the problems of the BT related with organizational, academic, social or material and technological matters? c) Are there differences between the problems of beginning teachers in both contexts?

The answer to these questions is relevant for several reasons. First, it is common to observe disagreements between school principals and teachers who are just starting out. On the one hand the principals find it logical to assume that teachers have the knowledge and discretion to implement the necessary methodologies in each subject area or in special cases concerning students. On the other hand, it is not unusual to hear teachers acknowledge, among themselves, that they have some shortcomings—although few choose to express it openly. Knowledge on the part of school leaders regarding the problems faced by the BT leaders is an indispensible requirement for directing efforts of professional development and training.

Second, the role of teacher-training institutions should respond through their study programs to the problems faced by BT. The curriculum design necessarily involves knowing the performance of graduates in a more succinct and explicit manner; Cornejo (1999) pointed out, concerning this topic:

What is expected of every innovative training process is that it help to forge, in those who participate in it, a set of capabilities, skills and attitudes, with the corresponding axiological foundations that would allow them to alternate, recreate and restructure continuously and lucidly their skills and competencies, as demanded by the requirements of the cultural, social and scholastic contexts in which it is given them to carry out their task, and in which their practices take place (1999, p. 60).

I . The voices of reference

In 1999, Cornejo reflected on the issue of beginning teachers, taking as his focus the reality of teachers in Latin America. In this discussion he alluded to how little this issue had been addressed in this region; unlike, for example, what had been done in the United States and in some European countries. Thus, the closest reference we have on the subject is expressed in the contributions from those countries.

This section features the voices that provided the framework for the development of the work. It is structured using as a platform the four categories—academic, social, organizational problems; and those of material and technology—which Dunn (2002) provides for classifying problems faced by BT. The classification has been used for analysis, although there is clearly an interrelationship between the categories.

a) Academic Problems

One of the most obvious problems in BT is the inability to improvise creatively, respectfully and with knowledge, because they do not have the ability to teach and apply what they know—nor do they have the experience needed to know the difference between teaching and studying (Wilson and Ball, 1996). This concentrates the essence of academic problems involving everything related to being in charge of a group of students.

It has been found that BT have difficulties in areas such as controlling the group and maintaining discipline (Boreen and Niday, 2000; Zepeda and Mayers, 2001), and that they lack adequate teaching strategies (Frieberg, 2002). In reference to this, Reynolds (1995) assures us that BT lack the ability to create opportunities for all students to learn. In fact, Wilson and Ireton (1997) found in their study of beginning teachers’ fears, that one of these fears involves not knowing how to deal with students who have learning disabilities. In addition to this, many BT lack sufficient knowledge about how to plan the academic program (Phelps, 1990; Eilerman and Stanley, 1994), and even about the content of the subjects they teach.

b) Organizational problems

Stansbury (2001) suggests that it is important to protect BT, because due to their own enthusiasm they are supersaturated with responsibilities, such as participation in extracurricular activities, clubs and committees. Johnson (2001), and Carter and Francis (2001) agree that it is common for BT to be given the classes that experienced teachers do not want; the most problematic children in the school; the most difficult duties and tasks outside the classroom classes; the evaluations nobody wants to make; and moreover, nobody supports them or monitors their progress. In relation to this matter, and particularly in Spain, Acevedo and Hornos Castillo (cited by Carmen, 2003) investigated the workload of teachers in public schools. These authors emphasize the problems of an organizational nature, relative to the support the school does or does not give to beginning teachers.

Regarding this area, the BT indicated the lack of adequate induction courses by the school (Johnson and Kardos, 2002). Vennman (cited in Bullough, 1989) adds that the BT expect that at the school where they work there will be rules everyone knows and respects; but often they do not find this information; they describe this as “the trauma of reality.” On the other hand, the principal’s help, so important during the first year (Brock and Grady, 1998), is not always available.*

c) Issues of material and technology

A problem that is lived day by day—one that may not seem very important—is that of the development of teaching materials and the decoration of the room, as well as the lack of appropriate materials for teaching. Eilerman and Stanley (1994) found that precisely this is a problem facing the BT in his first year of teaching. Similarly, Brock and Grady (1998) found a lack of knowledge among novice teachers regarding preparation and development of teaching materials.

d) Social Problems

Merseth assures us that the school culture is characterized by a high value of autonomy and privacy. The BT quickly become aware of this aspect, and are hesitant to seek help for fear that they can be catalogued negatively (cited by Babinski, Jones and DeWert, 2001). This implies a problem of relationship between colleagues, and leads some BT to experience a sense of isolation (Williams and Williamson, 1996, Wilson and Ball, 1996), and others to feel demoralized (National Education Association, 2000).

In addition to problems in relating with colleagues, new teachers also experience problems in relating with their superiors: they feel they are scarcely heard by these, and lack their support, as Weasmer and Woods (2000) suggest. This situation, coupled with organizational problems, leads logically to emotional exhaustion and stress (Futrell, 1988). In Spain, the latter has generated some programs; for example, Calvete and Villa (1997) worked on the Deusto project, which is based on the stress-inoculation paradigm, and aims to develop effective coping skills in high-school teachers.

On the other hand, social problems are also related to the changes today’s society is experiencing, and which affect teaching. In this sense, Wilson and Ireton (1997) held that changes in society such as migration and immigration (which result in a more heterogeneous school population), the change and emphasis on the issue of values, together with today’s violence, certainly must be involved in the problems faced by teachers.

Furthermore, these authors found that beginning teachers expressed fear about their relationship with [students’] parents/guardians. In this regard, Love (1996) and Johnson (2001) agree that the relationship established with parents/guardians causes distress and anxiety for the BT, since they do not know how to handle situations that arise.

Also catalogued as a social problem might be described the lack of a vocation for teaching in members of the profession, as described by Heck and Wolcott (1997).

All in all, the voices of reference indicate that there are academic, organizational, and social problems, as well as problems of material and technology. All these, naturally, have an impact on teacher performance, both as concerns burnout, and as related with the desire to continue or not to continue in the profession. Many become discouraged and give up teaching. Boreen and Niday (2000) indicate that 50% of U.S. teachers leave the profession in the first five years of practice, and 80% drop out after 10 years.

II. Methods

To explore the problems faced by novice teachers in the contexts of Madrid and Monterrey, questionnaires were applied to teachers in private bilingual schools, seven in Madrid and eight in Monterrey. Private bilingual schools were selected because of the work experience one of the authors had in this type of institution. The schools were selected in terms of their reputation for high quality, according to the prior opinion poll, so as to control a little of the interference that some variables associated with this attribute may have. The selection of teachers was based primarily on three criteria: a) the years of study they had to have finished (between one and three); b) that they be working as head of a group, and c) the level at which they were teaching. In all, 24 novice teachers from Monterrey and 26 from Madrid answered the questionnaires.

The questionnaire included the four variables of problems derived from the review of the literature—academic, organizational, social problems, and those of material and technology. The BT were asked to indicate how often they had encountered difficulties in their teaching practice in relation to a number of items (39 in total) for each variable. This frequency was indicated by a Likert scale of four options (with value of 1 to 4): frequently, occasionally, rarely or never, where 4 represented the perception of greater difficulty.

Furthermore, the questionnaire included an open question designed to obtain information in addition to that presented in the section of closed questions. The information collected was analyzed descriptively, and the resulting average was obtained on the scale for each of the variables.

III. The voices of Monterrey and Madrid

The overall results present a different situation with respect to the frequency with which the BT of Madrid and of Monterrey report having faced problems when starting to work, as shown in Table I.

Table I. Overall results related to the BT

Conclusion

There is an obvious need for studies in which more private schools would be involved, and therefore, more teachers. It is also necessary to consider schools in the public sector. However, using this study it is possible to detect the concrete needs that indeed call for a response derived from the questions that gave rise to this work.

Regarding the first question on the problems faced by novice teachers in Monterrey and in Madrid, the results indicate that the BT’s problems are varied. On the one hand, the teachers say they face difficulties because they lack the experience and wisdom they need to give their classes, and they have problems in getting parents/guardians involved in their children’s education.

Furthermore, they state that they have too little time to plan their classes, and that the large size of the groups they have to deal with presents further difficulties. Out of this comes the need for teacher-training schools to emphasize practice teaching during professional studies, as well as to offer as part of the curriculum, courses in certain skills, such as time management.

The preceding also carries with it the need for establishing strategies within schools to promote a more participatory culture on the part of parents/guardians.

Regarding the second question, as concerning the difference between the problems posed by the teachers in the contexts of Monterrey and Madrid, in general terms, its answer lies in the emphasis Mexican teachers give to the lack of material resources and technology, and the mention of a greater number of academic and organizational problems.

Teachers from Spain, like those in Mexico, allude to the fact that they have faced greater difficulties in academic and organizational aspects. To a lesser extent, they consider the social aspect to have been problematic. In this regard, the cultural nature of the two countries could be a determining factor in the social relations. What is conspicuous is that both the Spanish and the Mexican teachers perceive the relationship with colleagues, principals and parents/guardians as not very problematic. In terms of school administration, this could be used as leverage with which to offset the other problems; naturally, this would involve reinforcing the social environment that already exists.

Moreover, if efforts were made by the schools and universities themselves, it would be possible to reduce other problems, as well as to provide teachers with a more positive sort of entry into their professional practice.

Taking action in response to the above would not only improve teachers’ first years of work in their chosen field, but would also improve the education of our children.

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Translator: Lessie Evona York-Weatherman

UABC Mexicali

1This endnote, in the Spanish original, has to do with Spanish grammatical word endings indicating gender, and is in its original form, inapplicable to the English translation. Simply to satisfy the curiosity of those who may be interested, we give here the translation of the endnote: “The term maestros (male teachers) is used regardless of gender throughout the text, except where there is direct reference to research. In those cases, the term maestras (women teachers) is used, because the population of this study, inherently and naturally, consisted of women.”

Please cite the source as:

Cantú, M. & Martínez, N. H. (2006). Problems faced by beginning teachers in private elementary schools: A comparative study between Spain and Mexico. Revista Electrónica de Investigación Educativa, 8 (2). Retrieved month day, year, from: http://redie.ens.uabc.mx/vol8no2/contents-cantu.html