Teaching as a Profession

Do you believe that teaching is an occupation that should be considered as a profession? Is it comparable to doctors or lawyers? Should we view teachers as qualified and intellectual workers of our age? That's something that is hard to answer for some and easy to answer for others.

According to Richard M. Ingersoll and Elizabeth Merrill in their publication The Status of Teaching as a Profession some teachers are considered professionals depending on where they teach . Indicators to determine if an occupation is a profession are:

1. Credential/licensing requirements for entry
2. Induction/mentoring programs
3. Professional Development
4. Specialization
5. Authority over decision making
6. Compensation
7. Prestige

Teachers in Catholic schools and public schools in high income areas are more likely to be seen as professionals than teachers in private schools outside of the Catholic realm and public high schools in low income areas. Most private schools do not require their teachers to have as high of credentials nor are they required to have any kind of licensing. Low income schools more often than not receive the unqualified teachers without very much experience (and teaching subjects unrelated to their specialization) in their school which represents the lack of credentials. Catholic and high income schools will invest more time and money into induction/mentoring programs for the teachers and professional development. Districts in inner-cities consistently have problems with decision-making because there are not many funds available to implement wanted and needed programs. If you're a teacher in Catholic or high income schools your salary will be sufficient enough to support your family and have a little extra spending money.

What they say in this publication make sense. As a society we do not give the same honor or prestige to teachers as we do doctors and lawyers. Supposedly doctors and lawyers work harder in school and in the profession therefore they are paid more and mobilized to two of the highest statuses in our nation. I have nothing against doctors and [some] lawyers but with all things considered, aren't we discounting the experiences of teachers? Don't they have to go through schooling in order to maintain their license and heighten their credentials? Aren't they the ones who construct learning lessons 5 days a week for their students? They are pouring countless hours to see their students succeed. They are the ones who create doctors and lawyers.

Teachers influence the path of several students they encounter yet society deems most teachers (because many schools reside in the poorer areas) as unworthy of a decent compensation and respect. I see teaching as a profession despite what the indicators do have to say. These indicators just tell us how we need to improve the lives of teachers. Give them more requirements, induction/mentoring programs and development. Allow them to teach what they have specialized in and give them power to make decisions in the education system because after all they're the most important people we need in order for the school system to function.