After understanding that students across the nation are not performing as well as students in other countries, people look for a source to blame. They want to know what is causing this and why their students are not the best. Often this blame lands on the desks of teachers. It is the public school teachers that are mainly criticized for low test scores or low academic performance beyond scores. The teachers routinely carry the weight of these accusations and criticisms when they walk into their schools, and it creates an unjust educational system for students to enroll in. There is an issue of the lack of respect teachers receive from communities, and it further stems into the argument of low pay for teachers in the public school system. Teachers are routinely dissatisfied with the problems they face such as salary cuts, lack of resources, and neglect from leaders (Lynch). If teachers continually express these concerns, but no step is taken to resolve it, then the future of students and education is at stake.

As a country, we claim to value education. However, it is not valued as heavily as it should be if we wish to see significant improvements. Focusing on education and the root of its problems such as low respect for teachers would allow us to improve in other categories of issues as well such as presenting a strong economy. Nonetheless, we are still realistically undermining the education system and as a result, we undermine the teachers involved. Teacher salaries have dropped 4.5 percent over the past decade, and they are paid 21.4 percent less than what others receive in fields with similar educational requirements (Robbins). These teachers are preparing the next generation and creating a difference for the future, yet this great role is insufficiently rewarded through pay, attention, or resources. Recent decisions of school closings due to the coronavirus pandemic have affected teachers in different ways, but it has further stressed the lack of attention granted to teachers and their importance. School districts have been claimed to be hesitant on closing their schools because of concerns that parents wouldn’t be able to work efficiently (Robbins). Still, this brings light to the idea that schools are not to serve as drop-off/day care centers and teachers are not to be considered babysitters. This example presents just one way in which the prominence of our teachers are undercut.

Teachers are growing concerned about this treatment. As many as 61 percent of high school teachers considered quitting the profession due to long hours and low pay (Robbins). There is already a shortage of teachers and proper educational resources, so if this continues as teachers quit, we will find ourselves questioning whether we can effectively fix the educational system we have. A fix could come from the increase in respect towards teachers. The 2018 Global Teacher Status Index evaluated this relationship of respect and performance. They were able to find that countries with greater teacher respect had higher scores of student achievement per the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) (Walker). Countries with high scores in both categories included China and Malaysia, whereas the United States ranked 16th with a score of 39 in terms of teacher value. Other countries also express great respect to the profession through the competitive selection of the teachers and offering of standards that are equivalent to those of doctors and lawyers in the US (Lynch). As we see this rise in scores from greater appreciation of teachers, we can also see greater economic growth in the US. Increasing scores in a competitive global climate could result in a gain of trillions of dollars in the American economy, but once again we must stress where this would stem from; respect towards our teachers.

We can be hopeful that this will come to fruition. Yet, we must understand that until we appropriately support and appreciate the profession, improvements will not occur. Teachers will continue to do their work to the best of their ability, but it is still a community effort of support that ensures both teachers and students achieve the best at their greatest potential. It is a cooperative effort to ensure that their are enough resources, compensation, and acknowledgement. This will overall create a far better educational environment currently and in the future as well. After all, that is what we think of when we think of education. We want to make sure our students can perform the best for the future, so we must help the teachers in the same manner.

Works Cited:

Lynch, Matthew. “Respect for Teaching: Why Is Education So Low on the Priority List?” The Edvocate, 2 May 2016, www.theedadvocate.org/respect-for-teaching-why-is-education-so-low-on-the-priority-list/.

Robbins, Alexandra. “Teachers Deserve More Respect.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 20 Mar. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/03/20/opinion/sunday/teachers-coronavirus.html.

Walker, Tim. “Where Do Teachers Get the Most Respect?” NEA Today, National Education Association, 6 Dec. 2018, neatoday.org/2018/11/28/where-do-teachers-get-the-most-respect/.