I just finished a project conducting surveys in Texas from teachers who left their jobs and from individuals with bachelor's degrees who choose not to enter the teaching field. The goal was to identify areas that discourage people from teaching. The surprise was that only a third of the responses showed one of the factors as being low pay. The two most prevelant factors preventing Americans from teaching were 'student and parent behavior.' And those people contacted didn't just answer the surveys, many attached detailed comments stating the situations they had encountered or had seen others subjected to that affected their decisions. I volunteered at a job fair recently and watched people continually pass by school district booths. One man told me he'd rather work at a convenience store than teach because he had less chance of being continually insulted and/or bullied by kids and parents. At the risk of opening a Pandora's box, I'd like to hear the pros and cons of this issues from parents, teachers and students. Are the kids and the parents really that bad?
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Name : Alma31467, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Lesbian, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Methodist, Age : 49, City : Kempner, State : TX Country : United States, Occupation : government employee, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class, Yes, it is that bad. I taught for a little more than two years, and you couldn't pay me enough to go back. Regardless of the fact that I have doubled my salary since leaving teaching, pay had nothing to do with why I left. The kids have no respect and their parents don't allow them to take responsibility for their actions. After my experience, I am all for a resurgence of a 1950s-style education system with desks in rows and hands folded ... the kind of education system where if a child says he got in trouble in school, his parents' first reaction is to ground him rather than run to school and yell at the teacher for doing his or her job. Parents are so gung-ho on 'kids' rights' that they've lost sight of 'kids' responsibilities.'
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Name : Anonymous, Gender : F, Age : 26, City : Southern, State : NJ Country : United States, Social class : Middle class, A few years ago I was considering becoming a teacher. I thought it would be really rewarding to help people discover the joys of learning, or at least help them learn. But after attending college, I absolutely would not want to be a teacher. Most of my classmates were there only to 'get' a degree by doing as little mental work as possible, and they had no interest in or mastery of the subjects they spent months supposedly learning - making their degrees more of an attendance/completion record than representative of any knowledge gained. I witnessed the majority of students arriving to class late, leaving early, talking throughout class with friends, answering cell phones during lectures, complaining to professors about homework assignments, not doing reading assignments and then blaming the professor for their confusion during class, and arguing about upcoming tests. I also witnessed many students reporting really good teachers to the heads of the department for 'giving too much work' - even though the work involved only reading and was required in order to fully understand the upcoming lecture. Usually, in a class of about 24 or more students, only four on average would produce quality work, attempt to learn anything and treat the professor with respect. If I were a teacher, I would find that extremely disconcerting. In addition, the students didn't want to learn. They didn't want to put in the effort but still wanted their college degree at the end of the program.
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Name : Jay31105, Gender : F, Race : White/Caucasian, City : New York, State : NY Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, I am a high school science teacher in the inner city. I remember my professor said: 'Most of you will be gone after five years. It won't be the kids but the system you have to put up with.' Unfortunately, he was right. After two years, most of us are looking for other jobs outside of teaching. I teach in a school without enough classrooms, books or anything else, for that matter. As for the students, yes, some have no respect for teachers and will make your life miserable. What gets you through the day are the ones who want to learn. That's who I'm there for. Ninety-eight percent of my discipline problems come from students who know they can do what they want and face no negative consequences. They don't care if you fail them. The parents can't or won't help. In some cases, there is backlash against the teacher if the principal gets involved. Some principals would much rather have no learning taking place than having to explain to a superintendent why the level of suspensions has increased. I could go on. I disagree with one poster who said we should go back to the '50s. Society has changed since then. We have single-and two-income parents. What is true is that it takes a village to raise a child. There needs to be a shared understanding among parents, teachers, students, school officials and the community of what their responsibilities are and how they will be held accountable.
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Name : Steve27696, Gender : M, Race : Black/African American, Age : 31, City : New York, State : NY Country : United States, Occupation : Teacher, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class, This is my eighth year of working in a high school as a counselor. It does get to be very disturbing at times. I have seen so many students that just don't care and just about as many parents that don't seem to take the time to help their students get through this very difficult time in their lives. Many students have no boundaries or consequences. I have heard complaints about how the school is not helping the students, however we are not the parents/guardians. I really want to help students, but it is so hard to try to motivate an unmotivated student without support from home. This having been said, I love my job. It is the students that look at me and thank me for helping that keeps me going. I try to remember what made me become a counselor in the first place.
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Name : MSmith, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Episcopalian, Age : 33, City : Flint, State : MI Country : United States, Occupation : Counselor, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, I've been teaching in a community college for several years, and it's a wonderful occupation, although the workload is overwhelming most of the time. I find students to be enthusiastic, hardworking and commited. When the instructor is enthusiastic and interested, students respond to that. My experience is probably not typical because I teach in an occupational program, so students have worked hard to get this far. These students are all adults who have a clear sense of what they want and know they'll have well-paying and rewarding work after graduation.
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Name : Ellis, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 59, City : Santa Cruz, State : CA Country : United States, Occupation : Instructor, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, Alma, I am in my 9th year of teaching and I truly love the profession. I have taught in Maryland and now I teach our children overseas. I can honestly say that before I decided to teach overseas, I was considering another area of education. It was SO stressful and each year the children's behavior was worse! Some of them were great, but the horrible kids made classroom learning hell for the ones that were really trying to LEARN. Each year, parents cared less, and behavior showed that many had absolutely NO HOME TRAINING. The children cannot raise themselves, but in many cases so much was going on in their homes that it would make you cry to hear it. I gave money, food, time and tissues to countless children who seem to have no one else to turn to. It was not the lack of money but the lack of parent support that really started the problems. Also non-accountability: Teaching your kid that no matter what, they are right and everybody (and anybody) else to blame. I truly believe that we are going to suffer as a country because we are not paying attention to our children, and they didnt ask to be here! When I was growing up, every adult was responsible for every child. The adults worked together and raised the children, they disciplined all the children, taught respect and showed by example how to be decent caring human beings. Lord knows I miss that support! If we had it, then I am sure that many people would again embrace the thought of joining the teaching profession.
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Name : Anjela, Gender : F, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Christian, Age : 30, City : k-town, State : NA Country : Germany, Occupation : teacher, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, From my point of view the students who do not care about learning anything, much less passing with a decent grade, must make it so frustrating that the teachers can not take it anymore. I'm in a class where half of the students talk the whole time, do not do the work and all togther disrespect the teacher. All they seem to care about is there social lives and how to do as little work as possible until they have the least amount of classes they need to graduate or are old enough to drop out of school. The students show no respect for the teacher, other students, their school or themselves. There are advanced/honors classes where the students try but because the teachers cannot only teach honors classes and have to deal with the students who have to repeat freshman year and insted of lamenting the fact are excited and brag about being held back the teachers seem to either harden and become hated by the students even more or burn out.
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Name : roxanne, Gender : F, Age : 15, City : near chicago, State : IL Country : United States, Occupation : highschool student, Social class : Upper middle class, my mom is a teacher and she comes home with stories about parents everyday! most parents don't want to take any part in the education of their children. They think education happens at school only. They don't hold their children responsible for their actions, or homework. kids are getting more violent at school too. one kid would pull other kids off the monkey bars, cut girls' hair, and even stabbed a teacher with a pencil. the parents said 'oh, he's just being a little boy...' and nothing ever got done.
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Name : Matt, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 19, City : Sacramento, State : CA Country : United States, Occupation : Student, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, My first year as a teacher was He**. I hated it. I am in my second year now and have to say things have gotten a lot better. However, there are inherent flaws in the system (not the kids or parents) that keep good teachers out. Thinking about my situation last year makes me cry. I dealt with all the issues including being sexual harassed by my studetns (5th graders). It'll take too long to discuss them here. I will say taht I'm glad that I was given the opportunity to be a part of the system. I have experience to speak to this issue. I now have a new philosophy on puplic education and education in America in general. I now know that when I have children of my own, I will think long and hard (I've started now) about letting them enter our public school system. More than likely, my kids will go to private school or will go to school in another country. I may consider home-schooling my kids. The question I want to ask all politicians who think that there is nothing wrong with the system is: 'Why don't your kids attend public school?' Have you ever wondered why the Bush daughters both attended private schools? Somehting has to be wrong if the system isn't good enough for them. If the president's daugheres can't attend a public school, then neither will mine. Aren't I better than the president?
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Name : ane, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Pentecostal, Age : 23, City : houston, State : TX Country : United States, Occupation : teacher, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, I believe that is what most teachers do. I am a graduate of the 2002 class, and yes I was one of those students that the first person who taught bitched about. I was a rude, loud, late, pain in the teachers ass. Some teachers fought back and did the right thing and failed me. I only graduated because of a counselor that bent every rule for me, and a really nice guy that saw what happened when I applied was I did good. I got the highest grade on the final in his class, but still should have failed his class bad. He didn't and so I walked down the aisle on graduation day. My father never came to my rescue because everything i did i deserved and he knew it. I would love to become a teacher even though I know the world is on a colision course with students, that will most likely end up like me. Because of the few good ones I belive as one of these people said only 4 or 5 people payed attention in class, but those are the people who make this world keep turning because if it wasnt for them we wouldnt get teachers and scientist and other great people that help just a few more people. But if that chain continues and can some how begin to grow thewn some where down the line the world will become one hell of a place to live in, and I mean that in a good way.
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Name : Sean, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Disability : My attitude, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 18, City : Anaheim, State : CA Country : United States, Occupation : Student, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class, I taught primary school (K-2)for 5 years. I left when I started my family. The amount of time, energy, and general work load would not allow for me to have time for my family. I loved teaching. I love working with the kids. The parents, district policies and expectations make teaching extremely difficult. I hope to go back when my youngest starts school in another years.
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Name : Dawn25939, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 32, City : Atlanta, State : GA Country : United States, Occupation : Education, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class, Successful teachers were students who really liked school, saw value in their subject matter, and had a certain personality. The necessary personality traits include the ability to sustain a high energy level through a tiring day, the ability to juggle multiple decisions simultaneously, and to treat their students with respect, even when their feet hurt. People know when someone cares about them, and children can spot a phony from the end of the hall. Teaching is very, very difficult, made all the more so by the political agendas pushed by non-educators. But teaching can be highly rewarding, particularly in schools that maintain safety and security. I feel blessed to have just completed a thoroughly satisfying career in a community that obviously treasurers its young. Any new teacher who retains doubts at the end of the second year needs to find another line of work. Teaching is not for everyone, but it sure was right for me.
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Name : El S., Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 57, City : Flushing, State : MI Country : United States, Occupation : Retired teacher, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, I've just started teaching math in a public high school. When I was getting orientation I was warned by everyone to expect parents to call and complain about the change in teachers and the affect on their kids. Exactly the opposite has happened. I have recieved phone calls, and even had a few parent confrences already. But every single one was concerned parents that wanted to know what their child was doing wrong and what they could do to help. The county I live in has the highest per capita income in the state of Florida and the school is a nationally recognized school which has been an A+ since state testing began. I definitly believe this has alot to do with it. We have a LOT of kids who have very rich parents, most of whom made their fortune themselves and know the value of hardwork and taking responsiblity for ones actions. For 2 year I was a Behavior Specialist in the next county over (much lower income). I frequently came across parents who either didn't care or wanted to blame the school. It was frustrating but I never wanted to quit. People who are so easily discouraged or pushed around by parents or especially kids are in the wrong field and should have thought of that before they tried to teach.
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Name : Jorge, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Hispanic/Latino (may be any race), Religion : Roman Catholic, Age : 25, City : near Orlando, State : FL Country : United States, Occupation : Teacher, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, I taught fifth grade for one year, and i knew going in that it was only going to be for a year. i knew that i loved kids and i loved teaching, but know that i would have problems with disciplen, grading, and getting too attatched. it was one of the hardest and most rewarding years of my life, i still think about my kids all the time, i know all of them learned, and some of them think i'm the best teacher they ever had and some probably cant stand me. I loved it but cant sustain that kind of emotional and mental and time commitment. I still work with children, and may get a counseling degree, but i'm just not made for the class room.
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Name : Gene-D, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : asian,white, Religion : Christian, Age : 32, City : Bremerton, State : WA Country : United States, Occupation : engineer, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class, 
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