Final Draft IJWC Fall 2021 Issue 12.20.21 53 International Journal of the Whole Child 2021, VOL. 6, NO. 2 Education by the Numbers Donald Sneada aMiddle Tennessee State University Donald Snead (B.S.in Natural Science, M.A. Teaching in Curriculum & Instruction, Ed.D. Curriculum & Instruction in Science Education) is the Interim Department Chair and Professor in the Educational Leadership Department at Middle Tennessee State University. Committed to a social constructivist philosophy, he teaches courses in curriculum, leadership, and research methods. Dr. Snead is an inductee into the Kentucky Distinguished Educators Cadre. His research interests focus on improving learning for all students. It is not difficult to hear or engage in a debate on the influence that a celebrity, politician, or an athlete have in society. However, outside of the immediate home environment, a teacher is the most influential person in the life of a person. They act as role models and offer guidance to our children. Teachers are the backbone of society. Teachers are the people responsible for social and economic development of a society. What do we know about teachers in our public schools? According to the most reliable data, there are approximately 3.7 million (3.2 million public and 0.5 million private) full-time and part-time elementary and secondary school teachers in the United States. Teacher characteristics are often associated with other variables related to students’ success. Characteristics of Public-School Teachers The United States culture has long held that women are more nurturing than men. Historically, this has been the leading factor creating the notion that women are the ideal candidates for teaching. Additionally, prior to the passage of Title IX in 1972, women admitted to higher education institutions were encouraged to enroll in teacher training programs instead of other majors. These factors were effective in creating a female dominated profession. Based on the most recent data, it appears that teaching as a woman’s profession remains engrained in the American culture. Percentage of Public-School Teachers by Instructional Level and Sex Female Female Female Male Male Male LGBT 2000 2018 2021 2000 2018 2021 2021 Elementary 88% 89% 75% 12% 11% 21% 13% Secondary 59% 64% 50% 41% 36% 45% 14% Total 75% 76% 74% 25% 24% 26% 4.8% 54 Reference Elementary School Teacher Demographic and Statistics in the US (2021). Retrieved on October 8, 2021, https://www.zippia.com/elementary-school-teacher- jobs/demographics/ High School Teacher Demographics and Statistics in the US (2021). Retrieved on October 8, 2021, from https://www.zippia.com/high-school-teacher-jobs/demographics/ National Women’s History Museum (2017). Why are so many teachers’ women? Retrieved on October 8, 2021, from https://www.womenshistory.org/articles/why-are-so-many- teachers-women U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, (2020). Characteristics of Public and Private Elementary and Secondary School Teachers in the United States. Retrieved on October 8, 2021, from https://nces.edu.gov/pubs2020/2020142rev.pdf