Recently, I was browsing around the Internet and found an article, composed by Martin Haberman, about teachers and teaching as a profession. The article also included many shocking survey results. I was dismayed that teachers could respond in such a manner as the ones that were surveyed. The results were too upsetting to keep to myself. These are the findings.
· 89% of surveyed college graduates under the age of thirty say that personal safety is a concern of teaching. Coming from a small rural area, safety has never been a concern of mine. However I am sure that in large cities, safety is an issue.
· 56% of surveyed persons currently teaching agreed that a successful teacher should be able to create lessons that intrigue and motivate students. Meaning, 46% of teachers did not feel that this skill is needed to be successful at teaching. Shocking!! Inspiring students should be a personal requirement for all 100% of teachers!
· 27% of surveyed persons currently teaching stated that successful teachers are excited about their work. On the opposite side, 73% of the surveyed teachers felt that a teacher could be successful without enthusiasm. Wow! I do not see how these 73% of people get out of bed each morning!
· 33% of surveyed teachers felt that teachers should be compassionate toward children. How can 67% of the surveyed group not believe that being compassionate and caring is essential?
· 3% of the current teachers surveyed felt that it is not necessary to obtain a master’s degree from a prominent school. Finally, one I can agree with. I know many master’s degrees that have been earned without increasing the knowledge of the teacher. A lot of cohort groups and study at home programs offered are too easy and just ask teachers to ‘put in their time’ for the degree.
· When evaluated by veteran teachers, only 24% of new incoming teachers were found to have the management skills to handle discipline, 25% capabilities to deal with low academic students, and 70% needed more training on content knowledge. This does not surprise me. However, what does it say about teacher education programs?
· Only 6% of the surveyed teachers thought that continuous parent contact is a sign of a successful teacher. Therefore, 94% of the teachers surveyed did not think that parental contact is necessary for successful teaching.
So now you are probably asking the same question I did. “Where did they find the teachers who answered the survey questions?” The surveyors were organizations such as ETS, NCEI, Met Life, and Public Agenda. I am desperately hoping that none of the teachers in my area participated! These are the people that drive parents to home schooling!