Teachers are underpaid for what they do today. I am married to one and I see what my wife does. Average teacher has 5 years if university training and compared to other 4-5 year degrees they are underpaid. Some argue that they get two months off in the summer and it is only 10 months of work, what they don't consider is how much time is put into the job during those 10 months. My wife teaches 5 classes a day and has 40 to 45 students in each of her classes. In total she has over 200 students to teach and stay on top of. Every night she is marking labs, quizzes, tests, research papers and assignments. Then she has to plan her lessons for 5 classes the next day. She easily puts in an extra 4 hours of work every night and uses Saturdays to finish off what she can't get done during the week.

Students today are not the same as students before. iPods smart phones, computers, video games, social networking, and instant entertainment are all things that distract many students in school. Teachers now have the job of being semi unqualified experts in parenting, social work, counselling, family liaison work. The problem is shitty parenting where parents spoilt their kids with toys and entertainment and wonder why tests scores are so low. Then everyone blames the teachers. Yes some shitty teachers exist but there are many great ones and for what they actually spin side the classroom and behind the scenes at home they are very under valued.