JOHN MERROW:

Is this a good time to become a teacher? Salaries haven't kept up with inflation, tenure is under attack, and standardized test scores are being used to fire teachers.

Richard Ingersoll of the University of Pennsylvania says teaching attracts a certain kind of person.

RICHARD INGERSOLL, University of Pennsylvania: We have these surveys that ask people, college seniors, you know, what do you want out of a career? Is it money, is it prestige, is it security, is it problem-solving, is it intellectual challenge, is it doing good and helping people?