According to the Huffington Post, the United States is rated average in education compared to other countries. This rating is perplexing given that the U.S.A had one of the best economies in the world. Education is losing its importance in our culture, being replaced by sports and entertainment. Several opinions believe that the lack of enthusiasm in educational careers is a major cause of our inept education system. Other than parents, teachers are the most abundant part of our lives. From early childhood and into adulthood, teachers inspire us and set us up for our future endeavors. If this is true, then why teaching is considered the 'fallback' profession in our society? Education is not as competitive as other careers, and usually has good job opportunities. Most Americans would choose education as a career path only if they are unable to get a decent job in their respective careers. However, Finland has one of the best education systems in the world because they prioritize in education. In Finland, a Master's degree and several other requirements are to be met before anyone can be qualified to become an educator. Careers in education are highly competitive in this country, so only the top students are chosen to be educators. Teachers are respected as much as doctors and lawyers. In contrast, there are several American teachers who are not qualified to be educators. Kids, parents, and teachers alike are more concerned with passing classes rather than completely understanding the material given. Our education system would prosper if more teachers had the passion to want to educate others. Not every country has the opportunity to educate their youth, so education should be taken seriously. The government should take more steps into getting qualified instructors for schools and make sure they get paid enough for the efforts they make for the students. Above all, American teachers should be respected and appreciated for the impact they make on the individual and in society as a whole.
