Are American Teachers Unfair

Americans cannot deny that teachers are treated unfairly. From their salaries, to their expectations, and to their prestige, teachers are not respected or valued as they should be. Dr. Ivan Fitzwater says in his famous poem on education “I am a teacher… what I do and say is absorbed by young minds and echoed across the ages (Only a Teacher). Consequently, President Obama believes that “there are [many] young talented people that want to go into teaching” but are repelled by the convoluted education system (Krasteva). If teachers are the daily fuel that feeds our future economy, it is not right to undervalue them. Many Americans voiced this opinion during a Huffington Post survey that reported “most teachers were underappreciated and underpaid”

Around 80 percent of the school employees said they felt “demoralized” by their salaries and 52.2 percent said they would not be able to “retire comfortably” (Krasteva). For a job position that is held to the level and compensation of doctors in other countries, this is disrespectful to American teachers (Where Teachers…). Not only are teachers undervalued and undercompensated, they are inundated by the amount of pressure and accountability they are placed under. Peter Early, from the Institute of Education, says it’s not the accountability teachers are put under that is the problem, but rather the “high-stakes accountability.” Teachers fear this “idea of accountability” that just seems about blame, and many teachers do not trust management to protect them from the “many bullies out there” (Teachers’ Well Being). Educators are put under microscopic analysis on their failures and success. Teacher’s only worries should be inspiring the next generation to have personal success in their education, which never truly

Countries like Finland and Italy are setting the standard for true education. The Italians realize that every student is not the same and a cookie cutter education system will always fail certain students. So they came up with a six-type of secondary schooling style that each take five years to complete. Their first, and most similar to the American education system style, is “liceo classico” or classical studies (Miur). This includes a dabble in every subject to prepare the student for a basic level of understanding on most subjects. One major difference is students take a full five years of foreign language (DiGiovanni). The second style is “liceo scientifico” or scientific studies that focuses on applied sciences and technology (Muir). The third is a modern language style called “liceo linguistico” that includes the study of three foreign languages (DiGiovanni). The fourth is called “liceo artistico” and has a wide variety of specializations on many subjects to further the artistic careers of the students. “Liceo delle scienze umane” is liberal arts studies that focuses on the main areas of “human-centered sciences.” The last is “liceo musicale e coreutico” and is music and choir studies (Muir). Perhaps the most interesting area of the education system is how the Italians support students coming to the realization that they are not educationally gifted, and can drop school for vocational studies (DiGiovanni). This