By Dr. Marciene Mattleman

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers writes an interesting article in The New York Times, “Education by the Numbers.”

Sixty-three percent of teachers reported that their class sizes increased in the last year and 76% are working in schools with decreased budgets. Twenty-eight percent reported that health or social services in their schools were reduced or eliminated.

Approximately 50% leave the profession within the first five years and the MetLife Survey of American Teachers shows teacher satisfaction at a 20-year low. Nearly a third say they’re likely to leave the profession.

Teachers want the tools and conditions to meet the needs of their students, time to collaborate with other teachers and training before implementing something new. They welcome greater parent involvement and meaningful evaluations to help student achievement and teacher practice.

Weingarten ends with the words of AFT member Albert Einstein, “Everything that can be counted does not necessarily count…and everything that counts cannot necessarily be counted.