Multiculturalism in schools: The professional absorption of immigrant teachers from the former USSR into the education system in Israel

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to determine the professional absorption of immigrant teachers from the Former Soviet Union in comparison to veteran teachers 1 1 Veteran teachers—this term is used to describe experienced teachers working in the education system. The English term “native” is not appropriate, since a lot of these teachers were not born in Israel. working in the same schools in Israel. Findings are based on data from 272 questionnaires. The sample included 117 teachers working in Israeli schools who immigrated from the Former Soviet Union between the years 1989 and 1996, 115 veteran Israeli teachers working in the same schools and 40 principals of the same schools. Significant differences between the two groups were found on all items: immigrant teachers belong less to professional organizations, participate less in school decision-making forums, hold less positions (such as homeroom teachers, subject coordinators or grade-level coordinators) and partake less in professional enrichment courses. The picture that emerges from this research is one of “barriers “in the education system that hinders the absorption of immigrant teachers and fails to utilize the potential contribution of immigrant teachers, despite the general opinion that immigrant absorption is a national priority.