The Demoralization of Public School Teachers: The Devaluation of Public Education

The furor is building, and it’s not settling any time soon. Over the past decade, the role and efficiency of public school teachers in general, has been called into question more and more often. Public disappointment in student performance on state wide public tests has developed into a collective and uniform dislike of teachers, and the quality of the job they do. In light of government dissatisfaction with salary and benefit concessions, teacher’s unions, designed to protect the rights and valuation of educators across the country, have been demonized as the cause of all economic instability.

Teachers, those dedicated to educating children, to preparing entire generations for successful participation in our society seem to feel ostracized. Often required to be as highly educated as lawyers and nurses, yet not nearly as well compensated, these professionals seem to feel under valued, the critical role they play in society disregarded and under esteemed, their service to the public unappreciated. Across the country, teachers are demanding to be recognized as highly educated professionals, their job not just a job, but a lifelong dedication to our youngest generations.

Unions, the organizations designed to protect the rights of these public servants, are often demonized as greedy, unrealistic, inflexible. Deemed by some legislators as the cause of America’s financial downfall, the tenaciousness with which teacher unions fight to maintain the benefits and compensation guaranteed under contractual obligations has given them a gluttonous public reputation. Vilified by the media and those in government alike, teacher unions continue to stand by their fight for those dedicated to serve the public.

Government and the media seem, in partnership, to have fueled a public unrest towards public educators. Claims by some in government that teacher salary and benefits are bankrupting state budgets, and the simplistic spin some media outlets have put on state test scores have created bitterness between the private sector and those public educators who serve their children. Embroiled in contentious battles with union leaders, government leaders are demanding pay and benefit reductions from educators, who generally feel that their jobs are already undervalued.

The ingredients have been cooking for more than a decade, and the stew is coming to a boil.