Voices from the classroom

Here’s a sample of the results and related comments from respondents to a recent online poll of Canadian public school teachers, taken from The Voice of Canadian Teachers on Teaching and Learning, Canadian Teachers’ Federation National Research Project, 2011.

87% became teachers to make a difference in children’s lives.
“I care deeply about who my children are and who they will become.”

80% would choose the same profession again.
“Teaching can be a vehicle for social change and empowerment of marginalized groups. This was the main factor for me in becoming an educator.”

64% say public respect for the profession has decreased over the span of their careers.
“A teacher is no longer seen as the professional who has the knowledge needed to contribute to the decisions being made in education today.”

“Parents who never sit in the classroom have no concept of the curriculum or the state of our education system. They lobby principals and bully administration into getting their way for their children.”

88% say preparing students to be lifelong learners is a very important purpose of public education.

61% are satisfied with their ability to meet the needs of students living in poverty.
“The job expectations and workload are becoming unmanageable.”

“The most significant challenge is the incredibly difficult home life that so many children have to deal with when they leave school, and then have to try and forget about when they come back to school to learn.”

83% are satisfied with their ability to meet the needs of students with diverse ethno-cultural backgrounds.

66% say they love teaching young people.
“I am seeing mental health issues more frequently impacting on student performance.”