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Survey: 46% of Teachers Consider Quitting
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April 28, 2006 Given the fact that the State has not increased teacher pay and benefits and has not taken sufficient steps to ease overcrowding or provide up-to-date textbooks and technology, the alarming figures from the biannual “Texas Teachers, Moonlighting, and Morale” report are not surprising. The report, conducted by David and Travis Henderson, has tracked teachers’ attitudes every two years since 1980. This year’s report is especially disturbing because an exodus of teachers leaving the profession could compound the problem posed by having 53,000 Texas classrooms staffed today by inappropriately certified teachers, and that doesn’t count the number of classrooms staffed by long-term substitutes. As the legislature considers school finance this year, 33% of Texas teachers are moonlighting an average of 11 hours a week just to make ends meet, even though 67% believe an extra job has a negative impact on their teaching performance. On average, those teachers would need to make an additional $6,811 to avoid taking an extra job. According to the report, the “average” Texas teacher is a 43-year-old female with a bachelor’s degree, makes $42,654, has a working spouse, and spends an average of $552 per year for school supplies out of her own pocket. Forty-one percent of Texas teachers are the family breadwinner. Today’s teacher spends an average of 12.4 hours a week working at home, the most “homework” time spent since the survey began, but 69% still don’t feel like they have time to prepare. The top problems teachers face are discipline (53%) and paperwork (39%). Regarding the emphasis on standardized tests, only 7% believe a single test should be used for student promotion. The problems that face Texas teachers every day should be a top priority of legislators considering school funding. Changes in the way we operate our schools must address the threat of a more severe teacher shortage and avoid any actions like incentives or eliminating rights and benefits that would make things even worse. Education “reform” that doesn’t focus on creating a quality teaching force is doomed to fail our students. |
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TSTA/NEA: FIGHTING FOR TEXAS PUBLIC SCHOOLS SINCE 1880 316 West 12th Street, Austin, TX 78701 * 877-ASK-TSTA * ©2007 Texas State Teachers Association |