Low pay. Lack of support from administrators. Unsafe working conditions. These are some of the oft-cited reasons given for why many teachers are unhappy with their jobs. But the surprising results from a new report call into question long-held beliefs on job satisfaction, pay, and attrition rates.
Nine thousand graduates who received their bachelor degrees in various subjects in the 1992-1993 school year were questioned for the report. According to the study, 93 percent of teachers said they were satisfied with their jobs 10 years after entering the field. Also, only 18 percent of teachers left the profession within four years of getting their degrees, according to the data. That number is lower than attrition rates for other professionals.
How closely do the results of the study mirror the climate in your district? Are you surprised by the results? What impact will the study’s results have on new teachers and those entering the field?
