Teacher Morale Lowest in 20 Years

[proud2BlibKansan]

In a recent survey of the nation’s teachers, more than half expressed reservations about their jobs, according to the New York Times, the highest level of dissatisfaction since 1989. Nearly one-third said they were likely to leave teaching within the next five years (three years ago only 25% expected to leave teaching within five years). Many expressed concerns about job security, increased class sizes, cuts to programs and services.

The annual MetLife Survey of the American Teacher revealed other anxieties and concerns pervasive among teachers. About 40% were pessimistic about achieving further gains in student test scores and many expressed anxiety about the increasing use of these scores to evaluate them. Over 75% of teachers said their schools had suffered budget cuts last year, with 50% experiencing layoffs at their schools. Nearly one-third said their schools lost arts, music or foreign language programs.

Considering the increasingly vitriolic attacks on teachers unions, the equally absurd accusations that teachers are to blame for every malady afflicting public education, real and imagined, along with the declining pay and working conditions, it is surprising that only 33% are planning on leaving the profession in the next five years. However, this is likely an artifact of the terrible state of the economy. There just aren’t a lot of jobs out there, making quitting a very risky prospect. Furthermore, teachers who have tenure and seniority have considerably more job security than they would if they found a new job, increasing the risks of quitting.

http://modeducation.blogspot.com/2012/03/teacher-morale-lowest-in-20-years.html

[RKP5637]

1. I know several professors that have left or changed careers they were getting so fed up with

the direction of the educational system. Excellent teachers often only have so many inner resources left to deal with the perpetual putting down of teachers and the educational system. Eventually one says F it, for preservation of ones sanity, and that is a significant loss.

As we used to say in the corporate world, when employees start getting screwed over it's often the best that leave first.

[Odin2005]

2. Gee, I wonder WHY???

[Auntie Bush]

3. So true! Well reaoned out. If there were

plenty of jobs...most of today's teachers would quit in a heartbeat.
I wouldn't blame them. Plus with NCLB teacher's can't even be creative or enjoy teaching or doing anything beyond rote teaching/jamming for tests. There's no joy in teaching like that!

[Smarmie Doofus]

4. In the history of the profession, this will be known as the Obama-Duncan era.

Not exactly an inspiring legacy.

And.... if the economy weren't so bad, EVERYONE would leave.

[Pisces]

5. We have our kids in a spectacular charter and the teachers love the school and other teachers are

dying to get in. I know charters is an unspeakable evil on this board, however, some are very good and pay well. They
also treat the teachers well because they are the reason the school is doing so well.

[Smarmie Doofus]

7. Are they ( the teachers) allowed to have a union?

>>>They
also treat the teachers well because they are the reason the school is doing so well.>>>>>

[Pisces]

10. Not sure, but I would guess no. The teachers are very happy, and there is a back log

of applicants. I have spoken to 2 teachers that want to get in and have put applications. I know it is not popular and very
controversial but some charters are excellent places for students and teachers. The teachers are able to be creative, they do not
teach to the test and the school had low student teacher ratio which makes it a better experience for both student and teacher.

I feel lucky that my children attend this school.

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. Key word - "some"

None like that here where I am.

[Pisces]

20. I don't disagree. I guess it doesn't have to be all or nothing. I would not advocate for every

school to become a charter, nor would I want all charters eliminated. I do not like the all or nothing attitude. I don't think
all teachers feel threatened by charters. Most of the teachers at our school were former public school teachers and all have their
certification. I think this was the best choice for us after evaluating past the halfway mark.

We are in kindergarden and the decision was difficult. I couldn't be happier with the 17:1 ratio for my class. The school in
our area is good also, but I like the core knowledge curriculum and field trips they have been exposed to. This board was not
supportive of this decision and i understand teachers do not want to lose funding. As a parent you want to make the best decision
and I don't think an all or nothing approach works in this case.

[Smarmie Doofus]

18. I'd guess you're probably right. 95 % of charters are non-union.

Which suggests that maybe your charter managers are not as nice to the teachers as you think.


>>>I know it is not popular and very
controversial but some charters are excellent places for students and teachers. The teachers are able to be creative, they do not
teach to the test and the school had low student teacher ratio which makes it a better experience for both student and teacher. >>>

There is truth... and a bitter irony... to this. The same "reformers" that are wrecking public education w. teaching to the test, data-psychosis and ludicrous quantities of bureaucracy and paperwork demands, are promoting the proliferation of charters which are exempt from these very "reforms" .

[Pisces]

24. I think our teachers balance the time off, extra pay and less bureaucracy with being part of a union

Our school gives the entire week of Thanksgiving, schedule 3 day weekends with teacher planning days, only have 4 half days a year.
These are things that make sense to mitigate absenteeism. I am giving a ringing endorsement because up to know I have only
seen strong benefits of our schedule vs. the public school schedule. They are not teaching to the test but of course are required to
to give the test.

I am sure many would argue that the school does not accept everyone that applies because space is limited therefore making teacher student ratios low. They can ask you to leave if you are a discipline problem. Many things that the public school can not do this small
school can due to no red tape. As parents we do not have to buy a list of supplies at the beginning of the year, we pay a small
supply fee before school starts and the school takes care of all supplies with a bulk purchase which of course gets you more bang for your buck. Things like this would be a logistical nightmare for a public school with so many students. This practice also makes day one a learning day instead of a put away supplies get your desk ready day.

This is just a small example of what we have experienced this year.

[proud2BlibKansan]

27. How long do you think it takes to put supplies away??

Really no longer than it takes to pass supplies out when they're purchased ahead of time.

That's just a silly accusation. We waste time in traditional schools passing out supplies?? Good grief.

[Pisces]

32. This is not an accusation. Just an observation of the friends in public school with 30 kids bringing

in a list of supplies that need to be organized and put away, takes more than 10 min. more like 1 hour. This is just a small example
I don't know why you would hone in on this. It was nice to walk into the class on the first day of school with everything in place.

Another great example is that the kids each had 1/2 hour individually with the teacher before school began to meet the teacher and go through a small assessment of their knowledge. They were introduced to the class and felt comfortable on the first day of school.
My child was in Kindergarten so this made it especially nice. I know that the public school did not do this and it was an extra touch
that enabled the teacher to know her students before they walked in on the first day.

This is not an attack on teachers or the public school. I am simply stating that I happened to be in a great charter and I am thankful.
I know that many teachers on this board oppose charters and talk about them as if they are the worst places to send your child. My
experience this year has been exceptional and I can attest that not all charters are the same, just as all public schools are not
the same.

[MattBaggins]

21. So why do they get to flaunt the law and ignore testing

[Pisces]

25. They don't, they still give the test, they just don't teach to the test.

[RebelOne]

33. My daughter is a teacher in fantastic charter school

in South Florida and loves her job, the school and her students. She is also juggling her job along with attending college for her master's degree.

[Pisces]

34. Charter schools are not popular on this board, but there are some good ones out there. I support

teachers, and wish that they did not feel so threatened by charter schools.

[RB TexLa]

6. I would think the fact that at any time one of the animals they are teaching might pull out a gun

and start killing people for fun could also have something to do with it.

[Pisces]

9. Wow " animals" ? Not sure this is appropriate language to describe children.

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. Please tell me you're not a teacher.

[knitter4democracy]

14. Animals?! That's a disgusting choice of language.

My students are interesting, thoughtful, fascinating people who may frustrate me from time to time, sure, but they aren't animals (other than being classified as mammals just like you). I work in an at-risk school and have taught in alternative education where we assumed our students were armed, and even knowing that was never, ever a reason for me to consider leaving the profession.

Seriously, you need to visit a few schools and just observe for a few days before you use such language again.

[Starry Messenger]

15. Actually no.

People like you terrify me however. X(

[flvegan]

16. It's the RB TexLa show!!!

Two for one tix at the box office.

Dear jury, we've been doing this for a while. Should be okay. Don't drink with you, etc. Yada yada.

[Dr. Strange]

29. I don't alert with you.

[LanternWaste]

28. I imagine that how we ourselves may refer to students implies more about us

I imagine that how we ourselves may refer to students implies more about us than the students themselves. Sometimes the implication is merely indicating our lack of class, other times it may very well indicate how vulgar we are as individuals. But I think in the end, it will more often than not, simply imply a cry for attention-- regardless of how we receive it.

[RB TexLa]

30. So if the parents of Daniel Parmertor called the student who shot their son something you'd tell

them they lack class?


http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/27/us-shooting-ohio-urgent-idUSTRE81Q1AD20120227

[Pisces]

35. That is one isolated incident and you are singling out the parent. I would tell others not

personally affected that they have a problem. Those children who committed those crimes are mentally unstable and
someone should have seen some signs.

[RB TexLa]

37. Not going to change the fact that I, as I'm sure many others do, make sure my car doors are locked

and keep an eye out any time I drive past a school.

[LanternWaste]

36. Anecdotal evidence is not evidence.

Anecdotal evidence is not evidence.

Illustrate it as a consistent problem rather than an aberration and I will re-evaluate...


Additionally, we're discussing the general perception of teachers by the public rather than the perception of a crime by the victims families. Two wholly separate and different things. However, should your esteem require more attention, you may of course discuss the weight of polar bears, as it too holds the same amount amount of relevance.

[tsuki]

8. In Florida, in the panhandle, where I live, the teachers

I know all vote Reapubligan. The only one I know that does not, does not discuss politics at school for fear of reprisal.

I do not know why. I keep hearing that unions are unnecessary, out of date, a throwback.

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. I am friends with a bunch of Florida teachers on Facebook

They certainly don't act like repubs. Don't know if any are from the panhandle.

[tsuki]

19. Probably not. If I go east to Tallahassee, everything starts getting

bluer. I just don't get it, unless it has to do with the number of military wives in the system.

[flvegan]

17. Why wouldn't it be?

I've got two former teachers in my direct family and I cannot tell you how happy I am they are out of the profession. Neither one by choice, btw. One by corruption, one by non-tenure.

[FarCenter]

22. How does this compare with the morale of other workers?

For example, nurses, dental technicians, stockbrokers, chefs?

[woo me with science]

31. I think that corporate assaults are wide-ranging and varied these days,

even in organizations that have always been private, but previously never had this level of corporate centralization and control. I know many people who have come to hate their jobs after their companies were taken over by conglomerates that micromanage their behavior from a central office and have slashed benefits and salaries.

But the assault on government schools is particularly painful. Corporations should have no place in our schools. I was recently talking to a librarian in our family who bemoaned the fact that the school year is essentially over in their school, even though it is only March. She said from March to June is "essentially testing."

[certainot]

23. we left our radio waves to proud idiots who obviously don't like to be taught anything

unless it's dropped on their desk every morning by RW think tanks trying to privatize education and destroy all unions.

teachers and teachers unions: it starts at your local limbaugh hannity savage beck levin radio stations.

[liberalhistorian]

26. The ONLY good thing about my

retired-teacher stepfather being in a nursing home with dementia and not knowing anyone or anything anymore is that he doesn't know anything about the trashing, demonizing, scapegoating, and ripping apart of the profession to which he wholeheartedly dedicated decades of his life. Morale and teacher treatment was bad enough during the decades he was teaching (there weren't even any unions when he and my mom began their careers in the early 60's and pay and conditions were horrible), I can't imagine how much it would hurt him to see what's happening now and to see his life's work being denigrated and demonized. It's hard enough for mom, although she's damn glad she's retired now. Both of them worked their asses off for decades and got little for it, both in appreciation and compensation. And now most of what they did get goes to the nursing home for his care.

And people wonder why I never followed their footsteps and went into education myself. It's because I grew up seeing the bullshit they endured, and now I'm very glad I didn't go into it, much as I respect and admire the profession, those who practice it, and their importance.