According to Pew Research Center research released Thursday, more than half of American teachers want the public to understand how difficult teaching is.
In October and November, the Pew Research Center polled 2,531 public K–12 teachers to find out what they most wanted the public to know about their professions.
The survey demonstrates how the pandemic’s disruption of academic life continues to have a significant impact on the nation’s public school instructors.
According to the Pew report, 51% of respondents wanted it known that teaching is a difficult job and that teachers work hard. These teachers reported that working hours that extended beyond their contracts, as well as classroom obligations other than teaching, added to the job’s stress.
“Teachers serve multiple roles other than being responsible for teaching curriculum,” said one elementary school teacher. “We are counselors, behavioral specialists, and parents for students who need us to fill those roles.”
“The amount of extra hours that teachers have to put in beyond the contractual time is ridiculous,” a high school teacher complained. Arriving 30 minutes before and leaving an hour after is just the beginning.
Another considerable proportion of respondents, 22%, wanted the public to know that they care about their students and endure through the difficulties of their jobs to ensure their students’ success.
Despite their high levels of education, 17% of respondents felt devalued and disrespected. These teachers demanded more public support.
A teacher at a high school told me that the public’s degrading attitudes toward teachers are making it impossible to find well-qualified teachers. “People simply do not want to go into the profession because of public sentiment.”
Fifteen percent of teachers expressed their desire for the public to understand that their incomes are not commensurate with the time and effort they dedicate to their children’s education.
“Most teachers can’t afford health insurance or eyeglasses,” said one primary school teacher. “Do you know how many teachers need eyeglasses?!”
Pew also polled US adults about their attitudes toward American teachers. According to the center, the majority of respondents already believe that teaching in a public K–12 school is more difficult than most other careers, with 33% believing it is much harder.
According to a poll, nearly three-quarters (74%) of Americans believe teachers should receive higher pay than they currently do, with 39% saying this should happen significantly.
Thirty-two percent of respondents believed the public looked up to teachers, 30% thought the public looked down on teachers, and 37% said the public neither admired nor disapproved of them.
The most divisive topic between instructors and the general public was trust. Nearly half of teachers (47%) believed that most Americans do not trust teachers, whereas 57% of adults in the United States believe that teachers execute their jobs properly.
The public’s opinions vary significantly across party lines. Compared to Republicans and Republican-leaning Independents, Democrats and Democratic-leaning Independents were more likely to believe teachers would do a good job (70% vs. 44%) and that teachers should receive higher pay (86% vs. 63%).
“It’s getting harder. “Teachers are underpaid and struggle to make ends meet,” a high school teacher told Pew.
“We love your kids and want the best for them,” an elementary school teacher wrote. “We spend more time with your kids than with our own kids, so just give us some trust to do right by them.”
