Teacher survey shows American teachers feel unappreciated, overworked

Despite revealing that American teachers love their jobs, data from the latest OECD survey also reveals that only a minority of those surveyed feel they are valued by society.

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2014-07-01

The 2013 Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) released last week by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has opened a door to the current realities and numerous challenges facing teachers and education systems around the world.

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Among the results for the United States and other countries around the world, figures show that only 34 percent of teachers feel that society cares about the work they do, while at the same time report being satisfied with their work.

The TALIS report also showed how American teachers are on average working more than seven hours more per week than their counterparts in other parts of the world. The average teacher in the US works about 45 hours a week, while the international average is 37.

However, what may be the most surprising figures found in TALIS are the number of American teachers working with students living in poverty. Among the 100,000 lower secondary teachers and school leaders from 34 countries surveyed, the US was first with 64.5 percent of teachers working in classes where at least 30 percent of the students live under the poverty line, the highest among industrialized countries.

This is the second time TALIS has been conducted since being launched in 2008. Planning is underway for the next survey, to be conducted in 2018.

Source: Education International

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