Understanding the reasons why Native American students are not entering the teaching profession

It is a growing concern for minority educators in the America to observe the number of ethnic minority teachers dwindle while the ethnic minority student population is rapidly increasing. This study focuses on understanding the reasons why Native American students are not entering the teaching profession.; Faculty at two Native American federally funded tribal colleges, and a professor at major public state university were interviewed. Students were interviewed and surveyed. Data from these interviews and surveys confirm what research literature has mentioned as the reasons for so few ethnic minority teachers in the teaching profession.; Many young Native American college students are entering other professions because the salaries are more attractive. Tribal colleges have been successful in graduating students in land management, business administration, and Native American studies.; Other factors that often discourage interest in teaching include burdensome financial responsibilities, lack of academic readiness, and conflicts arising from commitments to cultural traditions and beliefs. Such issues can be offset to a considerable extent by the presence of teachers of the same ethnicity as their students. Research indicates that students tend to be more successful academically when taught by qualified teachers of the same ethnicity who are role models and are more likely to bring the sort of cultural understanding that enables students achieve academic success.; Native American tribes have developed federally funded tribal community colleges that offer baccalaureate degrees in different professions resulting in more educated Native Americans. However, the teaching profession still has not attracted very many Native Americans. One of the tribal colleges has developed a School of Education that does produce a few Native American teacher candidates. The school recently has implemented a program with a federal grant to offer stipends to students entering teacher education.; Recruitment programs are almost nonexistent. They need to be developed and intensified to increase the number of intelligent, creative, qualified, Native American teachers. The importance of education needs to be realized by the Native American people to better enhance their quality of life.