The sense of inadequacy and uncertainty arising from teacher work: Perspectives of pre- and in-service teachers

Abstract

Abstract

This study is based on the notion that teacher work has changed rapidly in recent decades. Teachers all over the world face students with diverse needs, and increased duties beyond actual teaching. Thus, teacher work has become more complex and demanding, with in-service teachers experiencing stress stemming from their work in general and different relationships, in particular. Simultaneously, pre-service teachers experience inadequacy and uncertainty about whether they can meet society's expectations of teachers. This phenomenon has been studied before, but most relevant research has addressed pre- and in-service teachers separately; hence, the commonalities and differences between these groups have been ignored. The present study focuses on Finnish pre- and in-service teachers’ experiences of inadequacy and uncertainty in teacher work. The data consist of 37 pre-service teachers’ and 21 in-service teachers’ written narratives on teacher work. Narrative categorical analysis resulted in four conceptual categories: 1) the sense of inadequacy and uncertainty stemming from the nature of teacher work, 2) the sense of inadequacy and uncertainty stemming from a lack of concreteness in teacher education, 3) the sense of inadequacy and uncertainty stemming from not fulfilling societal ideals of a proper teacher, and 4) coping with inadequacy and uncertainty. The second and third categories were found only among pre-service teachers. The findings suggest that feelings of inadequacy and uncertainty arise from various interacting factors, including the solitary nature of teaching responsibilities, heavy workloads, and the demands imposed by the national curriculum. The pre-service teachers had a realistic understanding of the demands and responsibilities of teaching. The in-service teachers’ experiences related more closely to the actual concrete practices of teachers’ everyday work, whereas the pre-service teachers’ concerns were more general. The implications for the development of initial and in-service teacher education are discussed.