Other Industrialized Countries Struggle to Keep Good Teachers in the Profession

According to an article in Education Week, the U.S. isn’t the only country struggling to attract and keep good teachers. Other industrialized nations struggle with the same issue, according to a new report titled “Teacher and Principal Compensation: An International Review” which was published by the Center for American Progress.

The report focuses on tactics that seem to work such as the UK, which will forgive the entire college tuition debt of a teacher who agrees to teach in shortage areas, such as special ed or mathematics. Brit teachers must agree to teach in the profession for at least 10 years.

Currently in the US, about half the mathematics teachers leave the profession within three years, according to Jerry Johnson, a mathematics instructor at Western Washington University.

Countries such as Denmark, Finland and Scotland offer higher pay, but fewer benefits during the beginning of the teaching career.

The topic of what will it take to get good teachers in both poor schools and shortage areas, such as math and science, came up recently in this state at the NBCT Summit held in October in SeaTac. There, 220 National Board Certified Teachers said they would be attracted to high-needs schools with just these perks, such as higher pay and loan forgiveness.

Currently, board certs, as they call themselves, receive a $3,500 yearly stipend, which usually arrives just in time for Christmas shopping. However, the stipend has to be approved every biennial budget by the legislature and doesn’t count toward retirement, a topic that makes many of the NBCTs grind their teeth. They hope the legislature will change that this session, which is fast shaping up to be the education session.