Film: American Teacher
NR
2011
1 hour 19 minutes
“Profiling four extraordinary teachers from diverse parts of the
county, this documentary feature examines the struggles of an underpaid
profession.”
This film was absolutely wonderful and I think it is a must see for
those considering the teaching profession. I found it on Netflix and it streams
instantly – please contact me if you would like to watch it through my account.
The documentary highlights the struggles that many teachers face. While
many agree that quality teachers are a necessity for our nation’s future progress
there is no action to back up that claim. Teachers are undervalued and are
often seen as the problem in the public education system. A good teacher can
help her student achieve a grade level and a half of progress in one school
year.
Even if teachers are not being casts as the villains in the public
education system they are still not receiving the prestige that they deserve.
Not only is it a low paying career choice but it requires long hours and
garners very little respect.
Four different teachers from throughout the United States are featured
throughout the film. Jamie Fidler, a
first grade teacher at Philip Livingston School in Brooklyn, New York shares
some of her struggles as a teacher. In her first year of teaching Fidler spent
$3,000 of her own money on classroom essentials. And this is not an uncommon
practice. Over 90% of teachers spend
their own money on supplies. Teachers are willing to spend their hard earned
money in their own classrooms. This is a testament to the dedication of
teachers. Later in the film we look at the salaries of teachers and see just
how many teachers take a second job in order to make ends meet for themselves
and their families.
The statistics are shocking. 31% of teachers take a second job outside
of the school system. If you include the positions of coach, advisor or tutor
then 62% of teachers hold two jobs. Even still, teachers struggle to stay in
the profession because the money isn’t there. Many teachers are living at the
poverty level. And yet they are still willing to give up their meager wages for
the future of their students.
Another issue that is talked about in this film is teacher
retention. There are so many teachers who leave the field that really would
love to continue teaching. They either leave because they cannot make due on
the money that they make or they are burnt out. Often new teachers are given
the largest and most difficult classes. This low pay and long hours work
teachers to the bone. And when these teachers inevitably depart, it leaves the
schools in a chaotic state. 46% of
teachers quit before their fifth year and this is due to long hours, lack of
support and prestige, plus the small salary.
One thing that I especially appreciated about this film is
that it looked at the nations that score the highest on academic standard
exams. It compared how those countries train and treat their teachers with the
practices in the United States. After seeing this comparison it is no surprise
that Finland does so well in Reading, Science and Mathematics when they are
being taught by teachers who receive so much support and respect.
Please don’t read my summary and think that this film is asking
for money. It’s not about that. It is about showing people how important
teachers are and asking for action. I am obviously not going into teaching to
become wealthy but I do want to be able to support myself and my future family.
I hope you will watch this film and see how important it is that we value
teachers in our society, that then in turn you will pass this film on to
others, and we can start a revolution. This would be a revolution in which the
public education system gets better, teachers are valued more highly, and our
children are the real beneficiaries.
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