Teacher Turnover

An article at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/30/AR2008113001927.html?nav=rss_education caught my attention because it hit close to home.  It is about the high attrition rate of the teaching occupation.  The number usually thrown out there is that about 50 percent of teachers are exiting the field within 5 years.  Although, the article does state that number is not that dire, but teaching does have an unusually high turnover rate.  Some of the reasons are as listed: disrespect that interferes with lessons, disruptive behavior, unmotivated student body, dissatisfaction with salary, stress, and opportunities for higher paying jobs. The list goes beyond these, but these are some prominent reasons.  The way things are going though, it does not look like the situation is going to get better anytime soon.  This is pretty discouraging to think about.  I’ve already been contemplating not sticking with teaching because of some of the above mentioned issues.  Hopefully sometime soon the education system will take a turn in a more positive direction.