Teachers are largely undervalued and underrated. This is especially sad considering the tremendous impact teachers have on their students on a daily basis. Teachers are some of the most influential people in the world, yet the profession is continually mocked and humiliated rather than revered and respected.
The vast majority of people have misconceptions about teachers and don't really understand what it takes to be an effective educator.
The silent majority
As in any profession, there are teachers who are great and others who are not so good at their daily chores. When adults look back on their school years, they often remember great teachers and bad teachers. However, those two groups only combine to represent about 5% of all teachers.
According to this estimate, 95% of teachers fall somewhere between these two groups. This 95% may not be memorable, but they are the teachers who show up every day, do their work, and receive little recognition or praise.
Misunderstood profession
The teaching profession is often misunderstood. Most non-educators have no idea what it takes to teach effectively. They do not understand the daily challenges that teachers and professors around the world must overcome to maximize the education their students receive.
Misconceptions will likely continue to fuel perceptions about the teaching profession until the general public understands the real facts about teachers.
What you may not know about teachers and professors
The following statements are generalized. Although each statement may not be true for all teachers, they are indicative of the thoughts, feelings, and work habits of most teachers and professors.
- The vast majority of professors and teachers are people who enjoy their work, making a difference.
- Teachers do not become teachers because they are not smart enough to do anything else. Instead, they become teachers because they want to make a difference in shaping young people's lives.
- Teachers don't just work short hours with summers off. Most arrive early, stay late, and bring their papers home to work. Summers are spent preparing for next year and on professional development opportunities.
- Teachers get frustrated with students who have tremendous potential but who don't want to do the hard work necessary to maximize that potential.
- Teachers want students who come to class every day with a good attitude and really want to learn.
- Teachers enjoy collaboration, ideas that come up in class, best practices, and support each other.
- Teachers respect parents who value education, understand where their child is academically, and support what the teacher does.
- Teachers are real people. They have lives outside of school. They have terrible days and good days. They also make mistakes, they are not perfect beings.
- Teachers want a principal and administration who support what they are doing, follow their suggestions for improvement, and value their contributions to their school.
- The teachers are creative and original. No two teachers do things exactly the same. Even when they use another teacher's ideas, they often give them their own personal touch.
- Teachers are continually evolving. They are always looking for better ways to reach their students.
- Teachers have favorites. They may not come out and say it, but there are those students, who for whatever reason, with whom they have a natural connection.
- Teachers get irritated with parents who do not understand that education should be a partnership between themselves and their children's teachers.
- Teachers are control freaks. They hate when things don't go according to plan.
- Teachers understand that individual students and individual classes are different and tailor their lessons to meet those individual needs.
- Teachers don't always get along with each other. They may have personality conflicts or disagreements that fuel a mutual dislike, as in any profession.
- Teachers appreciate being appreciated. They love it when students or parents do something unexpected to show their appreciation.