Public Opinion of Public School Teachers

Results from an annual poll conducted by Phi Delta Kappa (PDK) and Gallup shed light on Americans' views on teachers at public schools. According to the poll, 76% of respondents said that they "think high-achieving high school students should be recruited to become teachers" and 74% said they would encourage the brightest person they know to become a public school teacher if that person said they would like to be a teacher. Furthermore, 67% said they would like to have a child of their own "take up teaching in public schools as a career." There was less of a consensus on math and science teachers, however. When asked "which do you think is more important for our nation's future -- to encourage high school and college students with skills in science and math to become scientists or to become science and math teachers?" 48% of respondents said "become scientists" and 48% said "become science and math teachers." While these results suggest that Americans see a need for talented scientists, they also feel that intelligent young people and their own children should be encouraged and recruited to become teachers.



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