Teachers Are Underpaid (And That’s Bad for Us and Future Generations)

It’s time to wake up and address the real issue in education

Erik P.M. Vermeulen, PhD
4 min readDec 9, 2022

Photo courtesy of author

The door is open. An energizing buzz fills the corridor. I can feel the adrenaline rush and excitement.

Well prepared, I am entering the classroom.

“Good morning and welcome,” I say with a loud voice, while glancing through the room. Suddenly, it’s quiet. More than two hundred pairs of eyes are staring at me. It’s obvious that the students don’t know what to expect. It’s the first class of the semester.

The pressure is on.

As a teacher, I cannot permit myself to have an off day. Today is the day I must pitch the course to them. Clearly, I hope to see all the students (or more) again during the second lecture next week. My performance must be convincing, attractive, and serious. It’s a balancing act. I don’t want to come across as a clown. The class must be inspiring and interactive, teach the students about the subject, and focus on skills training and competencies at the same time as well.

There is never a dull moment as a teacher. You never stop learning either. I always have to innovate and experiment. In the fast-changing world, students’ expectations and behaviors are continually changing. What…

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Erik P.M. Vermeulen, PhD
Erik P.M. Vermeulen, PhD

Written by Erik P.M. Vermeulen, PhD

Where Gen X memories meet today’s struggles.

Responses (3)

What are your thoughts?

Teachers earn less (or better: a lot less) than other comparably educated professionals.

This is the sad truth…

The truth is that being a teacher — no matter the school or the level — is one of the most demanding and responsible jobs out there

So much societal change, often virtual, where it is the teachers who stand at the vanguard to preserve learning our cultural heritage as well as managing new social norms, especially for teens. A good teacher should be celebrated.

This is and isn't the answer.
At least it wouldn't have been for me, fifty years ago when I first started attending school.
If you have a good teacher, you have a good teacher. If you don't no amount of money will change them or their ability to be a…...