Teachers Deserve More Than 'Thanks'

Recently, I've seen a bumper sticker that states, "If you can read this, thank a teacher." Each year the first full week in May is Teacher Appreciation Week. There's more than 3 million teachers in elementary, middle and high school classrooms teaching about 46 million children how to read, write, calculate, conduct experiments, observe the universe, and grow up to be good citizens. That's a lot of people to thank, but thanks are not enough.

By 2012, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that we will need about 18% more teachers than are in the classroom now. The BLS notes that "Currently, many school districts have difficulty hiring qualified teachers in some subject areas--mathematics, science (especially chemistry and physics), bilingual education, and foreign languages." Teaching is a growth industry, but will schools be able to attract people to the profession? In particular, will schools be able to attract those trained in mathematics and physical sciences?

According the BSL, the annual median starting salary for a teacher is just under $31,000 (2002). Compare that with the $60,000 median salary of lawyers just 6 months after graduation, and the median salary for all lawyers at over $90,000 (2002). According to the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), one of two major teacher unions, the average salary for all public school teachers of grades kindergarten through 12th was $44,367 (2001-2002). That includes people who have taught for 35 years and are at the top of the salary scale. One need not wonder about the apparent surplus of lawyers, and the shortage of teachers.

Today, new science and mathematics teachers are required to complete an academic major in the discipline they will teach. The requirements of "No Child Left Behind" demand increased academic preparation of teachers based on the need to improve pre-college education. I have no complaint with higher standards.

My question is whether the teaching profession will be able to attract the science and mathematics majors into pre-college careers when one considers the simple economics of the situation. Individuals who complete degrees in mathematics and sciences have other options. (All statistics from BSL, 2002 or 2003)

Career Annual Median Income (in thousands, rounded off)

The old argument that "teaching is a part-time job" and so has a "part-time salary" does not hold up. Teachers are employed 185 to 200 days each year, not including school breaks during the academic year. Many teachers move from the classroom to summer employment to pay the bills, or to coursework to sustain their teaching credentials or licenses. There are no lazy days of summer for most teachers.

Most high school science teachers are trained in biology, and find themselves teaching all of the sciences. Certainly, many are competent to teach courses besides biology. High school physics, chemistry, and earth science teachers that have discipline majors are rare. The lack of truly qualified people is, in part, due to teaching salaries that are not competitive with industry, research, and other government employment, plus working conditions. Few scientists would expect to provide their own supplies, make due with out-of-date texts, and old equipment. But, this is often the case in science classrooms. We can't educate for the future without well-educated teachers and proper materials and equipment. I believe that we need to raise teacher salaries and provide them with the tools to teach.

If you read this, thank a teacher. If you are still excited about exploring the universe from the realm of the atom to the most distant galaxy, thank a science teacher. If you use mathematics in daily life, thank a mathematics teacher. If you enjoy your personal computer, your cell phone, your pace maker, etc., thank the teachers who prepared all the scientists and engineers that work in technology.

But that's not enough. Next week, attend a school board meeting and ask for better classroom support for science and mathematics instruction. The week after, write a letter to your representative in state government asking for better support for science and mathematics education. Write and email your Congressional Representative and Senator asking them to restore the education funding to the National Science Foundation that supports science and mathematics education. It's been drastically cut over the past two years.

Teachers work for us all, and they need more than thanks. They need our support.