Americans Are Less Interested in Becoming Teachers

Even though most Americans have a great deal of respect for the teaching profession, the majority of them say they wouldn't want to get into the teaching field themselves, according to a new Rasmussen Reports poll.

Only 25 percent of American adults consider teaching a desirable profession to go into despite 67 percent of Americans saying being a teacher is one of the most important jobs in the country.

Fifty-seven percent of Americans don't see teaching as an attractive profession, while 18 percent are undecided.

More than half of Americans -- 58 percent -- believe public school teachers are paid too little. Only 10 percent say teachers are paid too much while 25 percent say they're paid just right. That number increased to 41 percent when respondents were informed the average American teacher makes $56,000 a year.

The national poll of 800 Americans was conducted April 8-9 by Rasmussen Reports.