Public opinion on teachers and teaching

As more teachers are going on strike, the latest PDK poll shows strong public support for them, along with awareness of the challenges they face.

This has been a busy year for teachers. High-profile teacher strikes in Oklahoma, Kentucky, West Virginia, and several other states captured the public’s attention as teachers took to the streets to demand better pay and benefits. In some states, their efforts paid off. West Virginia’s strike shut down public schools for nine days until the governor and state legislators finally agreed to a 5% raise and no benefit cuts. Other 2018 efforts were less successful, but no matter what the outcome, the messaging was clear: Teachers are fed up and the public is standing behind them.

Maria Ferguson is an education policy researcher, thought leader, and consultant based in Washington, DC.