Why Teachers Teach, A Case Study of Teachers at a Suburban Elementary School in North Carolina

Abstract

In light of a series of wage freezes over the past 6 years and negative changes to the teaching profession, alongside a major overhaul to their curriculum, the teachers of North Carolina are understandably distraught, indicated by protests and increased job turnover in the state. I pose the question of why some teachers choose to stay in spite of these changes and issues they face. In order to solve this problem I traveled to a school in North Carolina which I will call Hilltop Elementary, this being a generic false name of course. There I interviewed 12 teachers on their likes and dislikes about teaching, how they feel about the government s policy decisions as well as why they continue teaching.