School's out forever

According to a new study released by the National Education Association, nearly half of all new teachers quit before their five-year anniversary. I'd like to say I'm shocked, but actually that sounds about right.

Combine surprisingly long hours, low pay and having to cater to the whims of a classroom full of crotchfruit and I'd all but demand $75K to get me into a classroom. (I've always agreed with Matt Groening that junior high is a holding pen to keep kids from bullying younger grammar school kids, while protecting them from the beatings they so richly deserve at the hands of the high schoolers.)

The study points to the pay grade and increased education by the teachers themselves (more than half hold a masters degree) as reasons for the growing attrition rates. I'll throw some more numbers at the end of the post that help outline the portrait of today's teacher.

I have to admit it was weird when my friends first started taking over in classrooms. Forget student teaching when I'd be pulling someone's head out of a toilet on Saturday and they'd be in front of 25 little faces on Monday, but when folks started getting their own classrooms, it got a little weird. (Of course none of this part applies to Tony... To my knowledge.)

Visiting after work or helping to chaperone a dance was always a little surreal, not to mention a stark reminder of just how quickly time flies. When being 25 is enough to make you an authority figure, something has gone horribly wrong. Also, the other teachers seemed suspiciously younger than I remembered.

Through all of that, it always struck me that the people teaching were those who loved teaching. It falls into that group of low-paying, high-reward jobs like nursing, veterinary medicine, firefighting, police work, journalism and others that call a small slice of the population to do important jobs for laughable salaries.

But, that love of kids, dogs or fire are enough to keep those professions flush with new blood year after year. People just out of high school fighting to go to cover city council meetings, waiting on lists just to take police and fire exams and teachers who are willing to teach wherever and whatever is needed all seem to be cut from a similar cloth.

That's why it's pretty sad when I see attrition rates for teachers at 50 percent. It just seems like we as a society should be doing more to help out here. Teachers throw in an average of 50 hours a week and put up with all sorts of nonsense from village governments to kids jamming things in their noses and this seems to be the best packages we can put together to reward them?

Just seems off.

As far as the bonus numbers go:

According to NEA's research and other sources, today's teachers are primarily white, female, married, religious, and on average are 43 years old. More than half hold at least a master's degree. Forty-five years ago, in 1961, only 23 percent held advanced degrees. Additionally, 21st century teachers:

• Spend an average of 50 hours per week on all teaching duties, including noncompensated school-related activities such as grading papers, bus duty and club advising.
  
• Teach an average of 21 pupils (elementary). Secondary schoolteachers have an average class size of 28 pupils.
  
• 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. Teachers of color spend about $470 per year, more than the $434 spent by white teachers.
  
• Make an average starting salary of $31,704 per year, not including supplemental pay for extra duties.
  
• Enter the teaching profession to help shape the next generation. Nearly three out of four (73%) enter teaching because of their desire to work with young people. And nearly seven out of 10 teachers (68%) cite it as the reason for remaining in the profession.

(Photo from www2Gol.com)