Chapter FourChapter Four

Outside the ClassroomOutside the Classroom

A Profile of TeachingA Profile of Teaching

Education is one of the largest and most Education is one of the largest and most influential professions. influential professions. Over 3.3 million public school teachers in the Over 3.3 million public school teachers in the

United States.United States. More than a quarter million teachers in private More than a quarter million teachers in private

schools. schools. About 1.2 million college professors.About 1.2 million college professors. Over a million men and women in education-Over a million men and women in education-

related jobs.related jobs.

Why we Teach Why we Teach

Love working with children.Love working with children. Want to make a difference in a child’s Want to make a difference in a child’s

life.life. Teaching is a calling.Teaching is a calling. Teaching provides a service to society. Teaching provides a service to society. You have independence in the You have independence in the

classroom.classroom. You have a lot of time off. You have a lot of time off. You are a professional and have a You are a professional and have a

position of respect.position of respect. Helping young people.Helping young people.

Who We Are Who We Are Teachers in public schools today are a diverse group of Teachers in public schools today are a diverse group of

individuals.individuals. Nearly 83% of all teachers are white with about 17% Nearly 83% of all teachers are white with about 17%

from a minority group. from a minority group. The average age of teachers today is about 43 years The average age of teachers today is about 43 years

with nearly 1 in 6 in their twenties. with nearly 1 in 6 in their twenties. Our profession will become much “younger” in the future Our profession will become much “younger” in the future

as older teachers retire.as older teachers retire. Nearly all public school teachers have earned their Nearly all public school teachers have earned their

bachelors degree.bachelors degree. The majority of teachers today have completed some The majority of teachers today have completed some

post-graduate work. post-graduate work.

Men and Women TeachersMen and Women Teachers

In the elementary grades, more than eight In the elementary grades, more than eight in ten teachers are women (84%). in ten teachers are women (84%).

In areas such as social studies, the In areas such as social studies, the majority of teachers are men (62%).majority of teachers are men (62%).

In math and science there are roughly In math and science there are roughly equal numbers of men (52%) and women equal numbers of men (52%) and women (48%). (48%).

Lack of Parental Support Lack of Parental Support

For teachers, the most pressing problem For teachers, the most pressing problem facing education today is the lack of facing education today is the lack of interest and support of parents. interest and support of parents.

The The homehome is the first place of learning and is the first place of learning and attitudes toward school are shaped there. attitudes toward school are shaped there.

Why Some Parents do not support Why Some Parents do not support EducationEducation

Financial problemsFinancial problems Domestic upheavalsDomestic upheavals A culture of educational failureA culture of educational failure Language difficultiesLanguage difficulties Parental naïveté regarding educationParental naïveté regarding education

Helping Parents Help Their Helping Parents Help Their Children LearnChildren Learn

Parents should demonstrate support for Parents should demonstrate support for teachers and show interest in their child’s teachers and show interest in their child’s schooling. schooling.

Parents should make sure that their child’s Parents should make sure that their child’s homework is completed.homework is completed.

Parents should have a quiet place for children to Parents should have a quiet place for children to study.study.

Parents should regulate television viewing.Parents should regulate television viewing. Parents should read to young children and Parents should read to young children and

should also do their own reading. should also do their own reading.

Improving Public Attitudes toward Improving Public Attitudes toward Education Education

Reach out to the community to Reach out to the community to communicatecommunicate both the needs and realities of education. both the needs and realities of education.

Get the true story of public education to the Get the true story of public education to the American people.American people.

Focus on the positive things in education. Focus on the positive things in education. Join professional organizations (NEA, AFT) that Join professional organizations (NEA, AFT) that

promote a more positive image of public promote a more positive image of public schools. schools.

Support politicians who are friendly to public Support politicians who are friendly to public education. education.

Improving Parents’ Attitudes Improving Parents’ Attitudes Towards EducationTowards Education

Develop a rapport with the parents.Develop a rapport with the parents. Use written and oral communications in the form of Use written and oral communications in the form of

notes, phone calls, emails.notes, phone calls, emails. Schedule face-to-face conferences to develop a positive Schedule face-to-face conferences to develop a positive

relationship with parents. relationship with parents. Send out Good-News Memos.Send out Good-News Memos. Invite parents into the classroom.Invite parents into the classroom. Ask parents for their advice on managing their child.Ask parents for their advice on managing their child. When talking with parents, use “we” instead of “I” or When talking with parents, use “we” instead of “I” or

“you.”“you.” Send out midterm reports.Send out midterm reports.

Helping All Children LearnHelping All Children Learn

Enrich classroom lessons with available resources and Enrich classroom lessons with available resources and technology technology

Examples: Examples: PowerPoints; the InternetPowerPoints; the Internet Employ “partner reading” to improve reading skills.Employ “partner reading” to improve reading skills. Use cooperative and group learning to minimize Use cooperative and group learning to minimize

competition.competition. Use “Low Tech and No Tech” ideas to enrich lessons Use “Low Tech and No Tech” ideas to enrich lessons

Examples: Examples: photographs; wall maps; transparencies; videosphotographs; wall maps; transparencies; videos Enrich homework assignments by challenging students Enrich homework assignments by challenging students

with work that cannot be done in the classroom with work that cannot be done in the classroom Examples: Examples: interviews; science projectsinterviews; science projects

Salaries of TeachersSalaries of Teachers

In the last decade, teacher salaries have risen In the last decade, teacher salaries have risen sharply. sharply.

The average teacher salary today is around The average teacher salary today is around $50,000.$50,000.

Beginning salaries are about $33,000.Beginning salaries are about $33,000. Some communities will supplement the salaries Some communities will supplement the salaries

of their teachers with sign-on bonuses, of their teachers with sign-on bonuses, insurance plans, low cost mortgages, and insurance plans, low cost mortgages, and discounts from local department stores. discounts from local department stores.

Quality of LifeQuality of Life

We are engaged with optimistic young We are engaged with optimistic young people.people.

We work fewer hours, fewer days, and We work fewer hours, fewer days, and have more vacation time than other have more vacation time than other professionals. professionals.

If we do our jobs well, we have lifelong job If we do our jobs well, we have lifelong job security. security.