I remember through my elementary school years, there was always a poster in the classroom that stated the Golden Rule– to treat others the way we want to be treated. Obviously, there are countless ways this rule has not been implemented well in the world. I find it a little ironic that this poster was in a classroom, because this rule is far from the truth, especially regarding the treatment of our teachers.
I am not a teacher, so I cannot express the true side of one. I also don’t write this to be a “teacher’s pet”, but to open our eyes to the unfair aspects of being a teacher, especially in the US. Unfairness and disrespect towards teachers has escalated through the years. In March, schools in Los Angeles, California, had to temporarily shut down due to teacher strikes from a group of at least 30,000 educators. And you can’t blame them. In the Tompkins County area, teachers are severely unpaid, on top of that working hours upon their actual shifts. In ICSD, 4.3 percent of teacher positions were open as of December 2022, which was the highest value compared to the Groton, Dryden, and Lansing school districts.
Even from a non-statistical perspective, respect for teachers is not being taken seriously enough. Recently in Matanzas High School, in Palm Coast, Florida, a seventeen-year old student attacked his teacher leaving her unconscious and in critical condition, all over a Nintendo switch. He is currently being held on a one million dollar bail. Another absurd incident that recently occurred was a six-year old shooting his own teacher at Richneck Elementary in Virginia, on January 6 of this year. Both of these incidents are outrageous for no reason. How is it fair that a teacher is attacked by their own student just for doing their job?
In various Asian cultures, respect for teachers is a core and crucial value. The 2018 Global Teacher Status showed China and Malaysia had the highest respect for their teachers, ranking them 100 on a 100 point scale, and 93.3 out of various other professions in their areas. Teachers in Taiwan were ranked as important as the role of a doctor. However in the US, the level was much lower, with the rank for teachers a 37.1 out of 100.
The information in the last few paragraphs shocked me about how poorly teachers in the US are treated. It’s clear why these positions keep opening up, because they are not receiving nearly enough for what is being put in. To any teachers, educators, or anyone working for a school facility, I thank you for the work you put in everyday, to make it possible for us students to progress through these years of development. The Golden Rule is just a small step to take to truly honor our teachers. But perhaps we can work closer to achieving it, by giving back to them in the way that they deserve.