Maori Teachers Who Leave the Classroom
Interviews with 74 Maori teachers in New Zealand who had resigned from teaching and with 23 other educators examined issues in the retention of Maori teachers. Former Maori teachers are described in terms of: (1) gender and geographical distribution; (2) type of teacher training; (3) colleges of education attended; (4) level of educational attainment; (5) length of teaching career; (6) years since resigning; (7) career history prior to resignation; and (8) current occupation. Former Maori teachers describe their motives for entering and leaving the teaching profession and their experiences in colleges of education, schools, and the education system. They also describe the difficulties faced by many Maori teachers in being Maori in a non-Maori school environment, in being a teacher of Maori language, and in being an advocate of Maori students and their families. Retention issues include the process of applying for teacher training and the teacher training itself, workload, pay and teaching conditions, treatment of Maori children in schools, inability to influence policy and participate in decision making, and other factors affecting Maori teachers. A literature review outlines why teachers leave the profession and factors specific to Maori education. This study concludes that there is a need for Maori teachers, and that addressing the issues might reduce the loss of good teachers from the classroom. Contains 59 references, the interview questions, a list of participants, data tables of results, and related newspaper clippings. (LP)