The "professional" work of experienced physical education teachers

This study investigates whether experienced physical education teachers perceive the same frustrations and negative orientations as beginning teachers. Furthermore, it considers if the professionalization-deprofessionalization tension is a useful theoretical framework for analyzing the perspectives of experienced physical educators. In-depth interviews were conducted with 11 experienced physical education teachers. Data suggest that in many respects their working conditions and orientations are more supportive and positive than those reported for beginning physical educators. After presenting the teachers' perspectives in terms of their sense of commitment, competence, and power, it is concluded that the professional satisfaction of these experienced teachers can be instructive for improving the working conditions of all teachers.