When Money Isn’t Everything

New teachers do not think money is the magic bullet that will improve teacher quality, according to a study of 644 public school teachers across the country by Public Agenda 2000, a nonprofit public opinion research group. The teachers, who have been in the profession for five years or less, rate several other measures, such as reducing class size, as more effective. Moreover, most would sacrifice higher pay if it meant they could work with well-behaved students, motivated colleagues and supportive administrators.

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New teachers feel underpaid...

How much do you agree with the statement “I am seriously underpaid”?

Strongly agree: 40%

Somewhat agree: 35%

Somewhat disagree: 20%

Strongly disagree: 5%

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...but other factors may be more important

Given a choice between two schools in otherwise identical districts, which would you prefer?

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Significantly higher salary: 12%

School with significantly better student behavior and parental support: 86%

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Significantly higher salary: 17%

School with administrators who are strongly supportive: 82%

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Significantly higher salary: 23%

School with highly motivated and effective teachers: 77%

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Significantly higher salary: 25%

School with a mission and teaching philosophy similar to your own: 74%

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New teachers who say the following are “very effective” ways of improving teacher quality:

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* Reducing class size.: 86%

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* Requiring secondary school teachers to major in the subjects they teach.: 59%

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* Increasing professional development oppor-tunities for teachers.: 57%

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* Increasing teachers’ salaries.: 52%

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* Requiring new teachers to spend more time in classrooms under supervision of experienced teachers.: 51%

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Note: “Don’t know” responses 2%

Source: 2000 Public Agenda