I have read many articles and seen many Facebook posts claiming that teachers are continuously leaving the profession for reasons being too much work with little respect. Some claim the pay is the reason but I have found that pay scales vary from state to state. I have known districts where the salary of educators is in the six figures.
It is not unusual that people quite jobs for one reason or another. In the corporate field a study by Harris Interactive indicates a full 74% of people consider finding a new job and 32% are actively looking. The reasons being:
• Hate their boss
• Feel a lack of empowerment
• Internal politics
• Lack the recognition that they deserve
So, it’s not uncommon in the field of education to also have a so called ‘revolving door’. These feelings appear to be common to the working class.
Teaching in America dates back to early colonial days where teaching was considered a temporary line of work. The vast majority of teachers in America were young white men because it was believed that women lacked stature to discipline efficiently in school. Women briefly taught as adolescents before they established their own households and men taught while preparing for another career. It was claimed that the rewards were too low, the work short and seasonal, and there were other economic opportunities for young men. History does not show why or when the teaching profession became feminized.
Reports from the National Education Association show that today 40-50% of those that enter the teaching profession will leave within 5 years because of poor working conditions and low salaries. Several other reasons that are causing teachers to leave are:
• A lack of respect
• Are told what to do
• Pressure from high stake tests
• Personal reasons such as college loans, low salaries, the inability to balance work and life
• The work is overwhelming
• Intense hours
• Schools in low-income areas
• Lack of job security
• Lack of promotions and merit pay
The teachers that stay usually have a consuming desire to work with and help students. This constitutes about 50 – 60% of those who enter the profession.
• Had a mentor and regular communication with an administrator
• Often chose teaching as their first career choice
• Enjoyed holidays off along with some weeks in the summer (conducive to family life)
• The daily routine varied and was usually eventful
• Loved learning with their students
• Served as a support for many students
• Loved being involved in the community
According to the Gallup Pole posted on Friday, January 17, 2014 titled Well-Being www.galup.com teachers are in a profession that promotes a high wellbeing (physicians are no.1). The wellbeing score was based on 170,000 interviews conducted in 2012 and measured physical, emotional, and fiscal wellbeing.
Added to the well being index, it was found that teachers ranked above all other professions in answers to questions that asked about smiling or laughing the day before the survey and the feeling of happiness and enjoyment the day previous to the survey.
In overall job satisfaction, teachers ranked fourth to the physicians, business owners, and nurses. Teachers (91.5%) also felt that they were able to use their strengths to do what they do best every day.
All in all, the teachers that stay in the profession are the caregivers on the frontline. They impact cognitive growth, promote psychological support in classrooms, and serve as adult role models in various situations. They create learning environments that promote life long learners. They believe that every child can learn and they create an environment to foster student success. Good teachers understand that knowledge empowers students.
Teaching is a wonderful profession but staying in the classroom is not easy. In my 40 years of being an educator I can’t say that I have seen even a handful of teachers quit. Most decide to leave after their internship or student teaching experience when they discover the amount of workload and the hours involved in creating lessons and checking student work. Teachers are faced with many daily challenges and in my professional opinion, successful teachers are willing to put forth the extra effort to understand their students and create lessons that will benefit everyone. I am proud to say that I have taught with many successful teachers that love teaching and are still in the profession.
