Why is there a teacher shortage?

[Anonymous]

I was one of those who left citing "dissatisfaction" with the profession. What I hated was the lack of support from the administration on discipline issues. Every year I'd get one or two jackasses who wanted to make me miserable for unknown reasons. The kind of kid who never stops talking and distracting their neighbors, gives you attitude, refuses to cooperate or do the work, tells you to fuck off. The kind of kid you used to be able to kick out of your class but now have to keep because the admin doesn't want to be involved. It was bullshit and eventually I just had enough abuse.

[Anonymous]

"Darling-Hammond recommended increased pay, compensation packages that could include housing and child care, and forgivable loans as some of the ways to improve teacher retention."


hahahaha

Yeah don't hold your breath

[Anonymous]

Years ago, women went into teaching because it was one of the professions where women were welcome. Even so, prior to 1970, there was almost never a surplus of teachers. Why? Not so many people went to college. Around 1970, teacher surpluses started becoming quite common and continued to be so.

However, with greater understanding and affirmative action for women, more and more women started going into other fields than education or nursing. Women are now going into business, engineering, computer science, etc.etc. This results in a shortage of teachers. Also, back in the day, most people continued to teach until retirement. Today, many school systems (FCPS among them) offered early retirement a few years ago. Lots of teachers left way before what is considered retirement age. Now, we have a shortage. It will adjust.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Darling-Hammond recommended increased pay, compensation packages that could include housing and child care, and forgivable loans as some of the ways to improve teacher retention."


hahahaha

Yeah don't hold your breath

I think free before/after SACC for teachers kids is reasonable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Darling-Hammond recommended increased pay, compensation packages that could include housing and child care, and forgivable loans as some of the ways to improve teacher retention."


hahahaha

Yeah don't hold your breath

I think free before/after SACC for teachers kids is reasonable.

Public loans are forgiven after 10 years, for teachers. I believe this is a pretty recent change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Darling-Hammond recommended increased pay, compensation packages that could include housing and child care, and forgivable loans as some of the ways to improve teacher retention."


hahahaha

Yeah don't hold your breath

I think free before/after SACC for teachers kids is reasonable.

Public loans are forgiven after 10 years, for teachers. I believe this is a pretty recent change.

Five years if you teach at a Title 1 school or in a high needs area like ESE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The benefits where I teach are ok, but not great by any means. For example, retiree healthcare costs are not cheap.

This.

My mom spent four decades teaching. Even with a MEd, she topped out at $80k and was asked to pay full cost of she wanted to keep her existing health insurance, 90% for the next level down, and 70% for a very basic HMO. No plans included vision, dental, or prescriptions. She is a 2x cancer survivor and physically disabled so her medical costs are pretty high. Her retirement is limited to grandkids, church, and library because she can't afford vacation trips or hobbies.
Over her career, my mom spent a small fortune on supplies for her classroom, field trips students' parents couldn't afford, and snacks for kids too ashamed to eat the free lunch. I wish she'd put that money in the bank instead. The next 15-20 years will be hard for her because we can't afford to help her much. DH and I are both teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The benefits where I teach are ok, but not great by any means. For example, retiree healthcare costs are not cheap.

This.

My mom spent four decades teaching. Even with a MEd, she topped out at $80k and was asked to pay full cost of she wanted to keep her existing health insurance, 90% for the next level down, and 70% for a very basic HMO. No plans included vision, dental, or prescriptions. She is a 2x cancer survivor and physically disabled so her medical costs are pretty high. Her retirement is limited to grandkids, church, and library because she can't afford vacation trips or hobbies.
Over her career, my mom spent a small fortune on supplies for her classroom, field trips students' parents couldn't afford, and snacks for kids too ashamed to eat the free lunch. I wish she'd put that money in the bank instead. The next 15-20 years will be hard for her because we can't afford to help her much. DH and I are both teachers.

It's not cheap. $1,132/ month for two of us.

https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/pdf/premiums_medical_dental_retirees.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is $50000 for 9-10 months of work not a great salary? She is not making much less than engineers if you extrapolate for the months she is off.

OP here -- this is what I mean. If it is such a great salary for only 10 months of work, why aren't candidates for teaching lining up around the block looking for jobs? How can there possibly be a teacher shortage and why are teachers leaving the profession in such large numbers?

I agree; if they can't get teachers for the salary they're offering then they're paying too little.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was one of those who left citing "dissatisfaction" with the profession. What I hated was the lack of support from the administration on discipline issues. Every year I'd get one or two jackasses who wanted to make me miserable for unknown reasons. The kind of kid who never stops talking and distracting their neighbors, gives you attitude, refuses to cooperate or do the work, tells you to fuck off. The kind of kid you used to be able to kick out of your class but now have to keep because the admin doesn't want to be involved. It was bullshit and eventually I just had enough abuse.

Me, as well. I felt like I was lion taming all day. All day for 28 years.Finally I said ---no more. I developed respect for myself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/america-has-a-teacher-shortage-and-a-new-study-says-its-getting-worse/2016/09/14/d5de1cee-79e8-11e6-beac-57a4a412e93a_story.html


Washington Post article claims there's been a dramatic decrease in new teachers entering the profession:

"Enrollment in teacher-preparation programs dropped from 691,000 in 2009 to 451,000 in 2014, a 35 percent decline, according to the study, “A Coming Crisis in Teaching? Teacher Supply, Demand and Shortages in the U.S.”"

It also claims nearly 2/3 of teachers leave before retirement age.

If teaching is supposed to be such a cushy job, "summers off, home by 3", and so well paid with great benefits ... why aren't people rushing to become teachers?

Because it's not a cushy job, you don't actually get the summer off, you're not home by three, and you're not well-paid.

If we want more teachers, we need to pay them more and treat them better. Like any other job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/america-has-a-teacher-shortage-and-a-new-study-says-its-getting-worse/2016/09/14/d5de1cee-79e8-11e6-beac-57a4a412e93a_story.html


Washington Post article claims there's been a dramatic decrease in new teachers entering the profession:

"Enrollment in teacher-preparation programs dropped from 691,000 in 2009 to 451,000 in 2014, a 35 percent decline, according to the study, “A Coming Crisis in Teaching? Teacher Supply, Demand and Shortages in the U.S.”"

It also claims nearly 2/3 of teachers leave before retirement age.

If teaching is supposed to be such a cushy job, "summers off, home by 3", and so well paid with great benefits ... why aren't people rushing to become teachers?

Because it's not a cushy job, you don't actually get the summer off, you're not home by three, and you're not well-paid.

If we want more teachers, we need to pay them more and treat them better. Like any other job.

My husband just entered his 5th year teaching in a Title 1 elementary school. This is his second career. We paid out of pocket for him to get a MSE. He had been working as a Fed attorney for years. As a teacher, he works three times as hard for half the pay. Screw the idea of summers off. It's more like three weeks by the time we are done with snow days and shifting school starts and mandatory training in the middle of the summer. We pay out of pocket for child care for at least one month every summer because he gets out of school later in the year and goes back earlier than our kids.

He spends $$ out of pocket every fall to get supplies for his classroom. He is expected to change his schedule on a dime because a training is scheduled at the last minute. He must be at school so early there are no good child care options for when I have to travel for work, so we have to pay someone to watch our children at 6:30 in the morning.

In general, we both thought by giving up the commute into downtown, our life would be a little easier when he was a teacher. Ha! My life sucks more because he can never take off and feel comfortable about it. Days off mean sub plans and no confidence the sub will get through to the kids.

He loves teaching, though. It's the BS that comes with it, including constant judging by someone, that sucks.

I completely get it that no one wants to be a teacher. I don't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Plus crazy parents. Today on DCUM: a mom of a HS kid who wants a teacher fired because the teacher mentioned her kid was "chatty," and a mom of a kid in K who volunteered in the classroom for 30 minutes the second week of schools and wants the teacher fired because based on her lengthy observations she "seemed more comfortable with" the white girls than boys or minorities.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have nothing but the utmost regard for teachers. Nevertheless, 100K+ may not be cushy for 8 months of actual work but with regular hours and a pension it doesn't seem that shabby.

I agree, but after 18 years with a master's I don't make close to that. I don't know any teacher making over 100k. I'm sure you can find one somewhere. DH works hard and long hours, but I don't know if they are harder or longer than mine and he makes 3x my salary and has similar vacation after all these years in his field with flexible days.

I truly love my job but sometimes regret my chosen career. I wouldn't want either of my children to become teachers.

[Anonymous]

I'm a teacher and I told my DS that I would not finance his education to become a teacher. I'm in my 5th year in a inner city school and they keep adding more and more work but cutting our planning time. I am guaranteed 3 planning period per week of 45 mins. This week, I had 3 meetings during those planning periods so I got no grading or planning done. School ended 10 minutes ago and I will be here until at least 6:00 working. I get here appr. 30 minutes early each day. I can't get here any earlier b/c my child's before school program opens at 7am. I am here until 5:30 every day and still have at least an hour of work to do at home every night. I estimate I work 15-20 hrs each week beyond my contracted hours (more than that at the beginning of the year). For this, I am paid in the mid $50,000s. If I could afford to quit, I would.