In times like these, being a teacher is far from easy. The levels of job satisfaction among teachers have reached an all-time low, with many feeling overworked and underpaid. In fact, nearly half of the teaching workforce is contemplating quitting. These are just a few of the striking findings from the Merrimack College Teacher Survey. Commissioned by the Winston School of Education and Social Policy and conducted by the EdWeek Research Center, this nationally representative poll surveyed over 1,300 teachers. This survey was designed to replace the long-standing MetLife Survey of the American Teacher, which ended in 2012.
The results paint a grim picture of a disillusioned and exhausted workforce. Teachers are experiencing immense pressure with little support and increasingly high expectations. Students now have greater academic and social-emotional needs, placing an additional burden on teachers who are already drained from more than two years of pandemic teaching. Furthermore, teachers find themselves at the center of divisive political and cultural debates.
Let’s delve into some key takeaways from these new findings.
1. Teachers are significantly less satisfied with their jobs compared to previous years.
The survey reveals that only 56 percent of teachers are satisfied with their jobs, with a mere 12 percent claiming to be "very satisfied". This is a drastic decrease from the 39 percent recorded in 2012, marking an all-time low. Throughout the 25-plus years of the MetLife survey, the percentage of highly satisfied teachers never dropped below 33 percent. However, in 1986, that figure did drop to 33 percent.
Millennial teachers, those born between 1981 and 1996, express lower satisfaction rates than teachers from other generations. Additionally, 45 percent of female teachers report dissatisfaction with their jobs, compared to 37 percent of male teachers.
2. The majority of teachers feel a lack of respect from the general public.
Most teachers feel respected and valued within their school communities and by the parents or guardians of their students. However, the survey reveals that only 46 percent of teachers believe that the general public respects them as professionals. In 2011, a significantly higher percentage (77 percent) of teachers felt respected by the public.
Interestingly, teachers in the South feel more respected by the general public when compared to their counterparts in the Northeast, Midwest, or West.
3. Teachers consider their salaries to be unfair given the work they do.
Teachers continue to earn less than other similarly educated professionals, causing immense frustration and sparking policy discussions. A mere 26 percent of teachers believe that their salaries are fair, while the rest disagree. Additionally, 51 percent of teachers "strongly disagree" that they are adequately compensated. According to the National Education Association (NEA), the average national teacher salary for the 2020-21 school year was $65,090. However, salaries vary widely between states. For instance, New York teachers have the highest average salary at an estimated $87,738, while Mississippi teachers earn the lowest average salary of $47,655. The Merrimack College Teacher Survey reveals that teachers in the Midwest and South are more likely to perceive their salaries as unfair, with 79 percent of teachers in both regions expressing this sentiment. In comparison, 68 percent of teachers in the Northeast and 65 percent of teachers in the West feel the same way.
4. On average, teachers work 54 hours a week, but desire more time for actual teaching.
A typical teacher’s week consists of 25 hours of teaching, five hours of personal planning, five hours of grading, three hours of interacting with students outside of instructional time, three hours of administrative work, two hours of collaborative planning with colleagues, and two hours of communication with parents. Additionally, teachers spend an hour on school committee work, an hour on professional development, and an hour on non-curricular activities such as sports or clubs. Two extra hours are devoted to miscellaneous tasks.
According to the survey, 29 percent of teachers express a desire for more independent planning time, while 28 percent wish they had more teaching time. Additionally, almost a fifth of teachers seek more opportunities for teamwork and planning with colleagues. On the other hand, roughly a third of teachers wish to spend less time on administrative tasks.
5. Teachers primarily seek support from their fellow teachers.
Teachers turn to their colleagues for support more than any other group.
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During a meeting at Lowery Freshman Center in Allen, Texas on Feb. 1, ESL Campus Coordinator Steve Clark, and English teachers Suzanne Cunningham and Claudia Hendricks listen to an idea from Stacey Flanagan.
Emil Lippe for Education Week
Teaching Profession
From Our Research Center
In a Challenging Academic Year, Teachers Are Relying on Each Other the Most
Madeline Will, February 8, 2022
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Approximately 75 percent of teachers indicate that they receive support from their friends and family, while 67 percent rely on their mentors for professional assistance. In comparison, administrators are not seen as frequent sources of support. Only 64 percent of teachers seek mentorship from school leaders, while just one third turn to district leaders, who may be responsible for curriculum or serve as superintendents.
Around 22 percent of teachers choose not to seek any mentorship or support related to their profession.
Teachers often feel micromanaged and excluded from decision-making processes. Only one third of teachers report having a significant level of control over their school’s policies. However, teachers feel that they do have control over their own teaching and pedagogy.
Nearly half of teachers express the possibility of leaving the teaching profession within the next two years. Twenty percent say it is "very likely" and 24 percent say it is "fairly likely" that they will quit. This is a higher percentage compared to previous years. In 2011, only 29 percent of teachers were likely to quit within two years, and in 2009, during the Great Recession, only 17 percent had plans to leave. The current high demand for workers may provide teachers with more options.
Despite these intentions to quit, experts believe that many teachers may not follow through due to practical and financial realities.
Teachers believe that the media should pay more attention to their working conditions. In the Merrimack College Teacher Survey, 85 percent of teachers expressed that their working conditions or school climate should receive more attention.
Here are some educational issues that teachers believe deserve more attention: 78 percent, school funding; 68 percent, students’ mental health issues and trauma; 58 percent, students’ disrupted learning and academic success; and 56 percent, inequities in schools related to race and poverty. In terms of teaching about race and racism, 36 percent of teachers believe it should receive more attention, but 28 percent believe it should receive less.
Data analysis for this article was conducted by the EdWeek Research Center. To learn more about the center’s work, visit their website.
