Almost half of Michigan's new teachers leave the profession within five years of when they start. Some cite low starting salaries and lack of support from administrators and community members as the reason they seek a change.

It's no secret that teaching isn't the most well-paying field. And for that reason, no individual would go into teaching with the goal of getting rich. People go into teaching to help other people. And for some reason in our society, that just doesn't cut it.

In the U.S., we like to pretend that intelligence is a valued attribute. We like to pretend we care about schools and learning. We can talk about how our children are the future and how they deserve a good education. But in reality, all that talk is superficial.

If we really cared that much about intelligence, we would work to raise teacher salaries and would better supply our schools and being a teacher would be one of the most highly regarded professions in our country. But it's not because we care a lot more about people who make lots of money and have lots of power. For some reason, we allow our system to take a proverbial "crap" on the people who are doing one of the most important jobs for the most unselfish reasons.

Teachers don't have high status, yet it's the most noble career there is. Giving up lots of money in order to help people: paying for supplies out of their own pockets, going through years of school, including unpaid teaching internships. Unlike teachers, doctors, lawyers and others in such positions will make back whatever money they take out in loans relatively quickly.

In foreign countries, namely Japan, teaching is one of the most highly regarded professions. Teachers are given respect from students, parents and community members; they are respected for devoting their time to bettering society. It's likely not a coincidence that Japanese students perform so well in school.

In a recent Detroit News article, a list was given of the five things school districts can do to help retain their young teachers. The list includes: higher starting salaries, student discipline, mentoring, control and class size. And it's true.

Teachers deserve higher starting salaries, school faculty should work together to address problematic behavior, new teachers should be paired up with seasoned veterans, teachers should feel like they have a say in how their school is run and class sizes should be smaller, allowing for teachers and students to better connect. When we're talking about a few steps we could take to ensure a better future for our nation, it's hard to see why they haven't been taken.

Teaching is a thankless career, albeit rewarding, and we shouldn't take advantage of teachers' willingness to help society. They should be honored, regarded and respected more than they are now.