A Good Teacher Perceived as More Important Than Class Size

When it comes to fixing education, Californians have conflicting impulses.

On one hand, six out of 10 adults statewide embrace programs to reduce the number of students per teacher, a new poll has found. But an even larger majority--nine out of 10--say that one of the best ways to lift student performance would be to put a well-qualified teacher in every classroom.

Here’s the dilemma: The first favored policy may preclude the second. Class-size reduction, in fact, has drawn thousands of non-credentialed teachers into public schools in recent years because of severe teacher shortages in some areas of the state.

The poll, compiling state and national opinions on teaching concerns, was made public last week by two nonprofit organizations that seek to promote teaching at a time when many school districts confront a mounting shortage of trained instructors.

“Californians, like their national counterparts, understand that quality teaching really plays a central role in school improvement,” said David Haselkorn, president of Recruiting New Teachers Inc., based in Massachusetts, one of the poll’s sponsors. “They appreciate the complexity and breadth of knowledge and skills that are required to be a teacher. I think Californians in general clearly support a much broader investment in teacher development and teacher learning.”

The poll was developed with Louis Harris and funded by Philip Morris Cos. and the Stuart Foundation. More than 1,500 adults were surveyed by telephone nationwide, in August and September, and more than 1,000 in California, with a margin of error in both samples of plus or minus 2 percentage points.

Most of those surveyed appeared to respect teachers. Six out of 10 adults in California rated teaching as the profession that provides “the most benefit to society,” topping a list of eight choices. The others, rated in descending order, were doctor (17%), nurse (6%), business person (4%), lawyer (3%), politician (2%) and tied for last, accountant and journalist (1%).

But only 37% of Californians said they would advise a family member to take up teaching as a career, while 42% said they would recommend becoming a doctor, the most popular choice. Teacher advocates said the finding reflects a disparity between how teachers are esteemed and how they are paid.

Indeed, in one of the most provocative findings, 78% of adults nationwide and 84% of Californians favored raising teacher salaries to help recruiting. That probably will be one of the key issues facing Gov.-elect Gray Davis, a Democrat, when he takes the reins from departing Gov. Pete Wilson, a Republican, in January.

The average California teacher earned $43,474 a year in 1996-97, 13% higher than the national norm, studies show. But many teachers say the state’s high cost of living slashes their paychecks. Turnover is highest in the state’s toughest assignments: positions in urban areas with low-income, low-achieving students.

California lawmakers have enacted a series of measures recently to help ease the teacher shortage. More money is being spent on mentors for new teachers. Rules have been rewritten to help teachers move to California from out of state and to enter the profession through various forms of apprenticeship.

Harvey Hunt, executive director of the Santa Cruz-based Center for the Future of Teaching and Learning, another poll sponsor, said the state should continue such efforts. But the new survey, he said, shows there is a will to do more.

“Now we have a real confluence,” Hunt said. “Education research has been telling us that the skill and knowledge of teachers is the single most important factor in student learning. And there is strong public support for initiatives to improve and strengthen classroom teaching.”