Mentoring and Induction

I remember when I started teaching in 1981 and basically was put in a room with 25 freshman and no real direction. I think that Dr. Closen made a reference to the "unknown curriculum". I experienced this first hand. I was teaching English on a "General Studies" track. In this day in age the kids would have been in resource and here I was trying to teach sentence structure, parts of speech, etc. I did not have much direction to say the least. Today first year teachers are afforded a great opportunity with mentors and programs to help them through not only local functions of schools but helps teachers develop teaching techniques through such tools as peer observations. I feel that so many young teachers in the past were discouraged from the profession in there first few years. Now with two years of mentoring they can receive help from peers and hopefully get them through the rough spots early in their careers. I feel that as future administrators when we are able to hire good young teachers we provide them with the resources to help them grow and mature as professionals and remain in our buildings.