Teachers deserve better than what we are offering them

Teachers taught me to read, write and solve problems. Most importantly, they instilled in me a desire to learn that has remained into adulthood.

We all want the best for our children, and we look to professional educators to fill the gaps where we as parents fall short (in my case, geometry).

Too often, our teachers are vilified and generally not appreciated for the jobs they do. Society asks that they not only educate, but in many cases act as guardians, mentors, social workers, disciplinarians, friends and even loan officers. Frankly, our society demands too much of teachers while offering too little in return.

This is causing serious challenges in South Carolina. Many students started this school year with excitement and optimism, but were met with disappointment upon learning they didn’t have a teacher. At the beginning of this school year, S.C. districts reported 448 vacant teacher positions, according to the S.C. Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention and Advancement. That’s a 33 percent increase from the previous school year and a 66 percent increase from the year prior to that.

In the face of this looming crisis, we must hold our state and local leaders accountable for their efforts to recruit the best educators to our classrooms — and keep them there. The educator center reports that the statewide average salary for first-year teachers last year was $34,491. Compare that with the overall average starting salary for a bachelor’s degree graduate ($50,651, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers), and it becomes clear that teacher salaries need to be discussed.

While teachers don’t choose this career for the money, it’s imperative that we ensure they are adequately compensated for the important role they play in our society.

Please thank any teachers you know or whose paths you happen to cross. In their classrooms sit the future leaders and heroes of our world. We owe them all a considerable amount of praise, gratitude and support.