Teachers like their jobs, say pay is decent

The MetLife Survey of the American Teacher is a pretty fascinating look at how public school teachers view their schools and the profession.

Findings included:

– Nearly twice as many teachers in 2008 agree that their job allows them the opportunity to earn a decent salary (66%), compared to 1984 (37%).

– A majority of teachers (62%) are very satisfied with their careers, compared to 40% in 1984.

– Eight in ten teachers (82%) agree strongly that they love to teach, a level similar to 1984.

– Many teachers (43%) agree that their classes have become so mixed in terms of students? learning abilities that they can?t teach them effectively, compared to 24% of principals who agree.

– Most teachers (73%) and principals (70%) report that getting enough qualified teachers is not a serious problem for their school.

– Most teachers (67%) and principals (82%) report that teacher turnover is not a serious problem for their school.

In sum, teachers like their job; believe that their pay is adequate; want more homogeneous classrooms; and are not concerned about teacher supply and turnover.