Teachers are happy?

We know, we know: There are surveys and then there are surveys, and we take them all with a grain of salt. But here's another one we thought worth considering: According to a new report from the National Center for Education Statistics (which is part of the U.S. Department of Education and has a credible rep), the vast majority of teachers from the 1993 cohort targeted by NCES were happy with their jobs - at least the ones still there a decade after they started.

Even more striking: Fewer than 1 in 5 teachers had changed professions within four years of getting their bachelor's degree, a turnover rate much lower than commonly reported for teachers and relatively low compared to other professions. "I understand why schools and school districts are upset about losing teachers, but it is part of the normal sorting process" in a dynamic job market, NCES Commissioner Mark Schneider told Education Week.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

Comments

[Propaganda Headlines ?]

The No's have it. It appears to me that they want out.

Length of time to stay in teaching?

Satisfied with teaching overall? YES NO

Rest of working life: 2.13 9.23

Until non-teaching job in education comes along 1.07 4.25

Until Something better comes along 1.43 6.63

Other 1.83 6.15

Would choose teaching again 1.36 7.17

Table C-4
Page C-8

[Short timer]

Add to the "raise" the fact that those at the top of the experience step got an 'off-the-books' bonus that doesn't get counted in the state retirement formula.

This translates to $15,000 (5+4+3+2+1) over the 5 year formula window for just THIS year.

It will affect every retirement check I get!

[pt]

You need to check your math. Teaching 14.3% more with 50% less planning timeand receiving an 8.whatever "raise" is not a raise--- it is not even equitable pay for increased teaching time and a longer day. The tragic thing is that the last
misguided attempt like this was disastrous--to the teaching profession, and each student that is being short changed. Students don't get a "do over" in high school--once they don't pass a test, a class, and their GPA crashes, that's it. "Sorry" --if it ever comes will be sadly inadequate. Teacher do so much extra because the want to--feel called to do so--no longer. Once it's mandatory, the motivation teachers do all they do will be gone. A tragedy this is going to be--hopefully students will be compromised this year only--as if that were acceptable.