Should teachers be paid more? Teachers are some of the lowest paid professionals in the workforce. Teachers should most definitely be paid more. Higher pay for teachers means students do better, if teachers got paid more, it would make them want to put in more effort to educate students. Every successful person was most likely taught by a teacher, so without that teacher, they wouldn’t be where they are today. Teachers should be paid more because they are overwhelmed, under-staffed, and overworked.
First, teaching students can be a very overwhelming job, teachers stress a lot when teaching students. In many cases, students tend to be disrespectful and disobedient by not paying attention, sleeping in class, and talking and playing during instruction. When students behave like this, they may perform poorly on standardized tests, this type of behavior could also cause students to not work on grade level. According to Statistics from The National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance, only 35 percent of fourth graders are reading at or above grade level. This means 65 percent of fourth graders in America are not reading on grade level. Over the past 5 years more than 60 percent of twelfth-grade students scored below the proficient level in reading achievement, and 27 percent scored below the basic level in reading. So the question is, is it the teachers fault that students behave this poorly or is it the students? When students behave poorly in the classroom it can cause teachers’ jobs to be overwhelming.
Secondly, teachers are working in understaffed classrooms. One reason teachers are understaffed is because many people are not choosing to teach because teachers are underpaid. Another reason that teachers are understaffed is because of the Coronavirus pandemic. According to a recent report from The Guardian, Editor Betsy Reed reports that nearly 10% of teachers in Providence, Rhode Island, either quit or retired early from the city’s school district before the school year began. Many teachers are out due to the sickness of Covid 19. Working in these types of environments are causing many teachers to leave the profession. Increasing teachers’ pay may be an incentive to cause them to want to stay in the field of education.
Finally, teachers are overworked. The average person works eight hours a day, but many teachers work more. Teachers have to grade papers and complete lesson plans for each assignment. Often, teachers don’t have enough time in the work day to complete their task/work, so it may cause them to carry work home, causing them to work overtime without pay. In addition, many teachers have to supplement their income to make ends meet. According to NEA News “Overall, about 20 percent of teachers hold second jobs during the school year, accounting for roughly 9 percent of their annual income.” Grading papers, completing lesson plans, and working additional jobs are causing teachers to be overworked.
Teachers SHOULD get paid more! This year new teachers did get a great pay raise. Veteran teachers got a small one. What does that say to veteran teachers? Does it say we want you? We appreciate you? It’s time we appreciate ALL our teachers, indeed.