Do I Feel What They Feel? (1)

Elaborate 1

There are many strengths and weaknesses to the American school system. To begin with its less fortunate parts: there are other countries that have students far more well-versed in math and the sciences, America really seems to find itself lacking in adequate foreign language instruction and retention among students, and our school system is run by a veritable bureaucratic entanglement of red and yellow tape, much of which does not officially require any sort of educational background to become a part of!

Now, on the not e of strengths of the American school system, there is quite a bit to the benefit of our students as well. Students are allowed a great deal of freedom to make their own decisions, there is a heavy emphasis on personal creativity in our schools, and perhaps most significantly, whether intended or not, there is a massive social development aspect ingrained in the the way our schools are run and how their students are put in situations in which they are encouraged to interact with their peers. Creativity and social development are things we emphasize quite well in this country, and it feels like, measured aside scientific advancement, the general public ignores this great strength, taking it for granted that social skills are not difficult to learn. Having heard conversation about this topic from immigrants from some other countries, that is not the case. Not every nation's schools allow the degree of social freedom that America's do. This is important because I am sure anyone will agree that, without the ability to properly communicate with others, it doesn't matter how intelligent a person is -- they need to be able to share that knowledge as well.

No, I don't believe that my personal feelings fall under the public perception of schools. I try to always be optimistic, and to look at the positive as well as the negative aspect of things, but I feel like schools have so much massive, publicized negative points that it is difficult for people to get around that and see the good in them too.

Questions

Why are teachers so underpaid and ignored (general attention-wise) if their public trust rating is so high?

Science and math aren't the be-all-end-all of education, just as we know that sports aren't either. Even as a science teacher myself, I wonder why we don't give more recognition to those other departments, and why it is that resources can't be provided more evenly. (I know the realistic answer to this, but wish to pose the question philosophically.)

Why are there so many teachers that, given the chance to do it all again, wouldn't still choose to teach?