Teachers' Satisfaction Tanks On Survey When Higher Expectations Come With Fewer Resources
For the last four years, Beth Sanders has taught ninth and 11th-grade social studies at Tarrant High School in Birmingham, Ala., a school where many students live in poverty. She, too, has to do more to make ends meet, as well as cover her student loans. So after the final bell of the day rings, after she leaves school (a 10 hour day), after grading and lesson plans -- she fills her financial gaps by running a website, tutoring students for the ACTs, and coaching teachers online.
"I don't sleep, I don't get paid enough, and I work too many jobs," Sanders says.
Her work as a teacher is already difficult enough: Her school isn't hitting federal standards established by No Child Left Behind, and performance targets are moving too fast for her special-education and non-English-speaking students.
"We're up against this impossible barrier," she says.
Sanders' concerns reflect those of teachers nationally: As demonstrated by recent survey data, job satisfaction within the profession is at its lowest since the Reagan years. What's at stake is the future of an entire
"I don't sleep, I don't get paid enough, and I work too many jobs," Sanders says.
Her work as a teacher is already difficult enough: Her school isn't hitting federal standards established by No Child Left Behind, and performance targets are moving too fast for her special-education and non-English-speaking students.
"We're up against this impossible barrier," she says.
Sanders' concerns reflect those of teachers nationally: As demonstrated by recent survey data, job satisfaction within the profession is at its lowest since the Reagan years. What's at stake is the future of an entire