Why less respect towards teachers is not a bad thing

Disclaimer: I respect teachers myself, just as I would respect any other person as a human being.


I often see articles lamenting how much our respect for teachers has fallen from the high standards of yesterday, when they were looked up to as the bringers of knowledge and keepers of civilization's flame. There are also articles detailing how much teachers are loved and respected in very poor regions of the world, where children come barefoot into schools without running water or electricity, in contrast to teachers in rich countries who are really not given much respect.


On the surface of things this looks dreadful. However let us consider why were teachers respected more in the past and in poor countries today. The answer, I think, is that in less developed societies, learning is rare and precious - even at the high school or elementary school level. Therefore by the laws of supply and demand, teachers are highly valued commodities. On the other hand in modern and rich societies, education is far more available and tons of people are qualified to become teachers. Obviously if the supply of an item increases tremendously, its market price goes down tremendously as well. Sorry teachers.


Another reason for this is that in the past, attending high school was not an easy thing, many poor families struggled to send their kids to school as their only lifeline out of a life of farming in poverty. So kids who are actually in school would tend to work hard as they would be cognizant of both their families' sacrifice, and their privileged position. Nowadays since everyone is forced to sit in class till at least high school, kids naturally value it much less.


In short, the reason that teachers are respected less today are:
1. Many more people are qualified to teach.
2. Learning is much more common than before.
3. Everyone has to attend high school, so the troublemakers are still around instead of going back to the family farm.


On the whole, I think this is a good thing. After all, would you prefer to be in a society where food is abundant enough to start food fights, or one where a potato is venerated for its rareness? I think the answer is self-evident.