The preparation, recruitment, and retention of teachers for rural areas and Native American reservations has long been a serious problem. This article describes a teacher preparation program that prepares preservice special education teachers to effectively work with Native American children and their families in a remote reservation area. University students receive practical classroom experience. The instruction is managed by an on-site instructor. The university students also experience almost total immersion in the Navajo culture. Recommendations are made for establishing similar programs in other locations.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BakerB. (1994). Native American Projects Funded by Division of Personnel Preparation, Office of Special Education Programs. (Available from BakerBetty C., Division of Personnel Preparation, 400Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C.).
2.
BarkerB., & BecknerW. (1987). Preservice training for rural teachers: A survey.Rural Educator, 8(3), 1–4.
3.
BissmeyerR. D. (1991). Renewed vision for special education: Kayenta's model of inclusion.Journal of Navajo Education, 8(3), 28–32.
4.
BrownK. (1994). Cultural training aspects of the Rural Special Education Project.Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff.
5.
GuerinG., & RobertsJ. (1987). Preparing special education teachers for rural areas.Journal of Rural and Small Schools, 1 (3), 31–33.
6.
HelgeD. (1979). Final project report of the national rural research project.Murray, KY: Murray State University, National Rural Research and Personnel Preparation Project.
7.
HelgeD. (1980a). National research comparing rural special education delivery systems before and after implementation of the education of all handicapped children's act.MurrayK: Murray State University, Center for Innovation & Development, National Rural Research & Personnel Preparation Project, Grant No: G007801686.
8.
HelgeD. (1980b). National research identifying problems in implementing comprehensive special education programming in rural areas.MurrayKY: Murray State University, National Rural Research and Preparation Project.
9.
HelgeD. (1983). Models for serving rural children with low-incidence handicapping conditions.MurrayKY: Murray State University, National Rural Research project.
10.
HelgeD., & MarrsL. (1981). Personnel recruitment and retention in rural America.Bellingham, WA: Western Washington University.
11.
JonesB. (1986). Preservice programs for rural environments: Survey and recommendations.Research in Rural Education, 4 (1), 3–8.
12.
KleinfeldJ., & NoordhoffK. (1988). Teachers for rural Alaska program.University of Alaska, Fairbanks.
13.
LancasterL. (1992). Recruitment and retention of special education teachers in Native American reservation schools.Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff.
14.
MossS. (1991, April). Issues in rural special education.Paper presented at the National Council for Exceptional Children Conference, Atlanta, GA.
15.
PattonM. Q. (1987). How to use qualitative methods in evaluation.Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.
