I think being a Teacher stopped being a career people valued when the school system became so corrupted that teachers could no longer teach, either through their own lack of actual education or giving up and just teaching to the standardized test (or even going as far as cheating for their students or encouraging cheating) so that the district/school/teacher gets more government money. The latter has been going on long enough that the students with good intentions to become teachers have learned nothing and have mush for brains. Students are gifted degrees in an ‘everyone passes’ classroom. They pursue their dreams of being teachers and now we’re a generation into the Mush For Brains dis-education of america.

It might also have something to do with how students viewed teachers during their time in school. Our generation grew up in an era of wealth for our country. One could just live off of the nest eggs that the previous generation accumulated throughout their careers. The children could care less about their education.

Additionally, our generation may have gotten the wrong idea that money indeed equates happiness. No one wants to be the Joe-Schmoe on the street or the one that has to work three jobs just to make ends meet. In this case, should they care about education, they’re likely wanting to get a job that will give them enough money to continue spending in excess as they have been doing since their youth. Given that teachers make less than those in the “professional field”, people tend to look down upon it.

I don’t think people realize that there would be no “professionals” without teachers.

What Daniel said about the standardized test may be true. In Japan, one of the reasons being pinpointed for their poor English is that their English programs are aimed towards memorization of vocabulary and grammar to pass standard tests, but there is very little emphasis on using or practicing the language in the classroom or outside. With all the thoughts of standardization, there is little room for that of excelling.

Either way, I’ll eternally thank you for your tutelage on web design (though I’ve not been able to practice it much as of late). You’ve the talent and capability to perhaps save the country from this “Mush for Brains dis-education of America.”