MetLife Survey of the American Teacher: Teachers, Parents, and the Economy
As we continue this journey to greatness how can we stay the course and continue to grow as professionals and create growth in our students? Teachers are feeling overwhelmed and under paid yet, the expextations of this profession is not based on our feelings but on the success of our students. Thank you teachers for the passion that drives you to perform regardless of the hand you are dealt and the resources given. " Don't tell me your values show me your budget and I will show you your values "Joe Biden-I thought I share a brief overview of the MetLife Survey with the fine teacher of this great state.The MetLife Survey of the American Teacher has been conducted annually since 1984 by Harris Interactive. The survey shares the voices of teachers and others close to the classroom with educators, policy makers, and the public. The survey examines the views of teachers, parents, and students about the teaching profession, parent and community engagement, and effects of the economy on teaching and learning in schools. A link to the full 130 page report of findings is posted below. Key findings of the report (arranged by topic) are as follows:
Teachers are less satisfied with their careers.- Teacher job satisfaction has dropped 15 points since 2009, from 59% who were very satisfied to 44% who are very satisfied, the lowest level in over 20 years.
- The percentage of teachers who say they are very or fairly likely to leave the profession has increased by 12 points since 2009, from 17% to 29%.
- The percentage of teachers who do not feel their job is secure has grown since 2006 from eight percent to 34%.
- Majorities of parents and teachers say that public school teachers are treated as professionals by the community (71% of parents, 77% of teachers), that public school teachers’ health insurance benefits are fair for the work they do (63% of parents, 67% of teachers), and that public school teachers’ retirement benefits are fair for the work they do (60% of parents, 61% of teachers).
- Three-quarters (76%) of teachers report that their school’s budget decreased during the past year.
- Two-thirds (66%) of teachers report that their school has had layoffs of teachers or other staff, including 44% who report layoffs of classroom teachers. In addition, slightly more than half (53%) of teachers report reassignments of teachers and staff have increased during the past year.
- More than one-third (36%) of teachers report reductions or eliminations of programs in arts or music (23%), foreign language (17%) or physical education (12%) in the last year.
- A majority (63%) of teachers reports that class sizes have increased in the last year.
- Most teachers (91%) and parents (80%) agree that their/their child’s school helps all parents understand what they can do at home to support a student’s success in school, and 83% of students agree that their teachers and parents work together to help them succeed in school.
- However, the level of agreement declines for each group from elementary to middle to high school. Secondary school teachers (86% middle school, 88% high school) are less likely than elementary school teachers (93%) to agree that their school helps all parents understand what they can do at home to support a student’s success in school. Parents of high school students (69%) are less likely to agree that their child’s school helps all parents understand what they can do at home to support a student’s success in school than are parents of middle school (84%) or elementary school (86%) students. High school students (71%) and middle school students (89%) are less likely than elementary school students (96%) to agree that their parents and teachers are working together to help them succeed.
Access the full 2011 survey report as well as previous editions by visiting the MetLife Survey of the American Teacher page on the MetLife Foundation website.
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