Teaching is not considered a desirable occupation in China, and many teachers are unhappy in their jobs. Education is the weak sector within the bureaucracy. Because it has been neglected for a long time, especially during the Cultural Revolution, many people, including government officials, do not take the problems of education seriously. From 1981 to 1985, China spent 2.56 percent of its national income on education, as against 7.3 percent by the United States. The poor living and working conditions have led many teachers to leave rural areas and small towns making the shortage of teachers even worse. Teachers generally have not been well-paid in China; their average wage has been the lowest among government employees. Less than one year after earning their diplomas, many teachers want to transfer to higher paying jobs. Even though job contracts are guaranteed, fewer and fewer students want to become teachers. The quality of teachers has a direct bearing on the development of the new generation being educated in schools, and a prospective bearing on the future of the nation. Therefore, building a contingent of qualified teachers is a measure of fundamental importance to the improvement of educational quality and the development of the cause of education. Suggestions to improve teachers' lives in China are offered. (JD)