REQUIREMENTS FOR TEACHER ACTIVITIES IN MODERN CONDITIONS

Abstract

The purpose of our article is to analyze the attractiveness of the profession of a teacher. In the theoretical part of the paper, we considered the status of an individual in the general context, namely innate and acquired status. Further, we focused on the roles of teachers that are performed in the framework of professional practice. We point out to the current crisis in the teaching profession. In the empirical part, we presented the study by the Institute of Educational Policy of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sports of the Slovak Republic on the attractiveness of the profession of a teacher. From the above study, we provided the answers of respondents to the questions: why did you decide to become a teacher? and why did you decide not to become a teacher? In the discussion, we presented both a positive view of the attractiveness of a teacher and the negative aspects of the professioan of a teacher. Our research demonstrates that respondents see the attractiveness of the profession of a teacher primarily in the fact that they can work with young people and thus pass on values to the younger generation. Further, the respondents’ response to the «joy of teaching certain subjects» indicates that teachers care about their self-determination. The main reasons why respondents do not want to become teachers are mainly low wages. In Slovakia, this is especially true for beginning teachers, whose salary is lower than the average salary of an economic worker in the Slovak Republic.