They go into the teaching profession for grander reasons - to educate our youth, to make a lasting influence. Simply put, to teach is to touch a life forever. Despite the fact that teachers play such an important role, elementary and secondary education teachers are underpaid, overworked, and, unfortunately, all too often, under-appreciated. In addition, our teachers spend significant money out of their own pocket on expenses that better the education of our children. This is the essence of volunteerism in the United States - teachers spending their own money to better our childrens education.
Numerous reports exist detailing the teacher shortage.
According to the National Education Association, America will need two million new teachers in the next decade, and experts predict that half the teachers who will be in the public school classrooms 10 years from now have not yet been hired. In addition, it is estimated that twenty percent of all new hires leave the teaching profession within three years. Certainly, a pay raise for teachers is needed and would be a strong showing of recognition and appreciation towards the profession. However, whether or not to provide teachers a pay raise is a local issue and not one that the federal government ought to be involved in. Nevertheless, there is something we can do.