Teachers have been a convenient punching
bag for critics of the U.S. educational system. Unions are accused of
protecting poor performing teachers while others bemoan rising salaries
in the face of ever-tightening school budgets. In his 2012 State of the
Union address, President Barack Obama had a message for these critics:
back off.
Highlights from the State of the Union
Obama spent much of his 2012 address to Congress and the U.S. Senate focused on the nation's economic recovery and with it, the importance of a well-educated workforce. At the post-secondary level, he discussed the need for more affordable college tuition rates and encouraged legislators to approve more student aid. He also took to task those who say teachers are the problem.
"Teachers matter," Obama said in his speech. "So instead of bashing them, or defending the status quo, let's offer schools a deal. Give them the resources to keep good teachers on the job, and reward the best ones."
He also championed creative teaching, saying there is a need to "stop teaching to the test." However, the State of the Union didn't give a free pass to all teachers. As part of his remarks, he said teachers who don't help kids should be removed from the classroom.
In addition to defending teachers, Obama went on record as supporting a minimum drop-out age of 18. Currently, 30 states allow students to drop out of high school at age 16 or 17, and Obama challenged those states to tighten their statutes in an effort to increase graduation rates.
Teaching in America
Historically, education has been a local issue, with communities creating their own districts, curricula and policies. States may mandate testing requirements or curriculum standards, but the federal government's impact on the day-to-day activities was generally limited until the last decade.
In 2002, with the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act, the federal government greatly expanded its role in elementary and secondary schools. A reauthorization of the 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act, NCLB expanded government regulations with a more rigorous testing and evaluation process for schools across the country.
Highly controversial, the law has spurred passionate debates, with supporters saying it is needed to fill in gaps created by a patchwork of state and local regulations. Critics contend NCLB represents government overreach that has stifled dynamic learning opportunities in favor of rote memorization for tedious testing.
While analysts and government officials debate the merits of NCLB, teachers continue to work on the front lines educating children from diverse backgrounds. Despite the challenges and the debate, many say there is nothing they would rather do.
Careers for teachers
At a minimum, public school teachers must have a bachelor's degree and state teaching license. Traditionally, bachelor's degrees in education have always been from an approved teacher training program that included specific coursework as well as a student teaching component. However, some states have approved alternative requirements in recent years. These allow individuals with a bachelor's degree to teach in high-need areas, such as math and science, even if they have not completed a traditional teacher training program.
Teachers in private schools also need a bachelor's degree, but state licensing requirements generally do not apply to these institutions. In both public and private schools, job candidates with master's degrees in education may be preferred, especially in light of NCLB requirements.
As of 2008, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports there were 3.5 million teachers working in kindergarten through high school classrooms across the country. From 2008 to 2018, job opportunities for these teachers are expected to grow 13 percent. The BLS indicates salaries for teachers depend upon their grade level with secondary teachers earning the most. Below are 2010 median annual wages for the various teaching levels, according to BLS:
Teaching can be difficult, but it can also be immensely rewarding. If you are ready to take on the challenge, start by checking out degrees in education. And remember, President Obama's got your back.
Highlights from the State of the Union
Obama spent much of his 2012 address to Congress and the U.S. Senate focused on the nation's economic recovery and with it, the importance of a well-educated workforce. At the post-secondary level, he discussed the need for more affordable college tuition rates and encouraged legislators to approve more student aid. He also took to task those who say teachers are the problem.
"Teachers matter," Obama said in his speech. "So instead of bashing them, or defending the status quo, let's offer schools a deal. Give them the resources to keep good teachers on the job, and reward the best ones."
He also championed creative teaching, saying there is a need to "stop teaching to the test." However, the State of the Union didn't give a free pass to all teachers. As part of his remarks, he said teachers who don't help kids should be removed from the classroom.
In addition to defending teachers, Obama went on record as supporting a minimum drop-out age of 18. Currently, 30 states allow students to drop out of high school at age 16 or 17, and Obama challenged those states to tighten their statutes in an effort to increase graduation rates.
Teaching in America
Historically, education has been a local issue, with communities creating their own districts, curricula and policies. States may mandate testing requirements or curriculum standards, but the federal government's impact on the day-to-day activities was generally limited until the last decade.
In 2002, with the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act, the federal government greatly expanded its role in elementary and secondary schools. A reauthorization of the 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act, NCLB expanded government regulations with a more rigorous testing and evaluation process for schools across the country.
Highly controversial, the law has spurred passionate debates, with supporters saying it is needed to fill in gaps created by a patchwork of state and local regulations. Critics contend NCLB represents government overreach that has stifled dynamic learning opportunities in favor of rote memorization for tedious testing.
While analysts and government officials debate the merits of NCLB, teachers continue to work on the front lines educating children from diverse backgrounds. Despite the challenges and the debate, many say there is nothing they would rather do.
Careers for teachers
At a minimum, public school teachers must have a bachelor's degree and state teaching license. Traditionally, bachelor's degrees in education have always been from an approved teacher training program that included specific coursework as well as a student teaching component. However, some states have approved alternative requirements in recent years. These allow individuals with a bachelor's degree to teach in high-need areas, such as math and science, even if they have not completed a traditional teacher training program.
Teachers in private schools also need a bachelor's degree, but state licensing requirements generally do not apply to these institutions. In both public and private schools, job candidates with master's degrees in education may be preferred, especially in light of NCLB requirements.
As of 2008, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports there were 3.5 million teachers working in kindergarten through high school classrooms across the country. From 2008 to 2018, job opportunities for these teachers are expected to grow 13 percent. The BLS indicates salaries for teachers depend upon their grade level with secondary teachers earning the most. Below are 2010 median annual wages for the various teaching levels, according to BLS:
- Kindergarten teachers: $51,550
- Elementary school teachers: $54,330
- Middle school teachers: $54,880
- Secondary school teachers: $55,990
Teaching can be difficult, but it can also be immensely rewarding. If you are ready to take on the challenge, start by checking out degrees in education. And remember, President Obama's got your back.
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