What is the portrait of today's teacher in the United States? The National Education Association has outlined the characteristics and issues facing the profession.

Yesterday

Teaching has had dramatic changes over the past 40 years. Between 1950 and 1970, it was common to find teachers in classrooms with two-year degrees, no behavior management training, and little knowledge of learning disabilities. There were often no televisions in the classrooms. No one even dreamed of computers, copiers, portable calculators, or telephones in the classroom. A classroom consisted of desks, black chalk board, chalk, books and a record player. One-fifth of teachers held an advanced degree.

Fast-Forward To The Present

Today, teachers can send a message to print their worksheet written on a portable laptop to the office printer 500 feet away by wireless message. Students are presenting reports at the middle school level by Power Point. These changes happened in 25 years and teachers have had to keep pace in this world of changing technology. There is more added to their already full plate every year.

What Is A Typical Teacher?

According to NEA's research, today's teacher is

• White
• Female
• Married
• Religious
• 43 years old
• Over half hold a Master's Degree

Interesting Facts

Teachers of the 21st Century:

• spend an average of 50+ hours per week on teaching duties, including noncompensated school-related activities such as grading papers, bus duty, club advising, fund raisers, phone calls at home, and evening activity supervision.
• teach an average of 21 pupils at the elementary and 28 at the high school level.
• spend an average of $443 per year of their own money to meet the needs of their students. Elementary teachers spend about $498 per year. Secondary teachers spend about $386.
• make an average starting salary of $31,704 per year.
• 73% enter the teaching profession because of their desire to work with young people.

What Are The Trends Of Today?

1. America's public school teachers are the most educated, most experienced ever. Half of the teachers have 15 years of experience or more. The majority of teachers hold one or more advanced degrees. Public school teachers are highly skilled in the subjects they teach.
   
   
2. The work of teachers is being transformed. Teachers are learning new skills and sharpening the ones they've already developed. Teachers are enriching their lessons with technology.
   
   
3. The number of teachers leaving the profession is increasing. Working conditions and low salaries are by far the primary reasons cited by individuals who do not plan to continue teaching until retirement. Nation-wide, more than 3.9 million teachers will be needed because of attrition, retirement and increased student enrollment. Many new teachers leave after five years. Teacher shortages appear in some subjects more than others (math, science, counseling, special education).
   
   
4. The teaching corps in public schools does not reflect the diversity of the student population. More teachers of color are needed. The percentage of African-American teachers is the lowest since 1971. Classroom success depends on cultural diversity.
   
   
5. Just 25% of the nation's 3 million teachers are men. Male numbers are gradually dwindling. States that have high salaries have more male teachers.

While there is a trend, it is not going in a direction that will be good for the country. The teacher shortage is looming closer every year. Three things are quite evident:

• We need more minority teachers.
• We need more male teachers.
• We need to keep the teachers we have.

If education for our children is important, we as a country will need to prioritize needs and put more funding into teacher salaries. Children are our future and the U.S. is already falling behind other nations of the world in education. A teacher shortage is not going to improve that situation.

Read previous articles on Educational Issues.

Copyright article 2006 Barbara Pytel. All Rights Reserved.