Why is there a teacher shortage?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If money was so important to you why did you pick teaching.

I don't know any other profession that is so unprofessional.

Pat yourself on the back, poster, because after a day one where I was both kicked and smeared with food (both intentionally), your thoughtless and hurtful comment just sent me right over the edge. Quitting. Done. Outta here. You have NO idea what it’s like. I hope you do not have a child in need of an education because comments like yours are the mail on the coffin for stressed educators. Do you even feel a tiny bit of regret? Or are you perfectly satisfied to have kicked people when they’re down and spat on them to. Unbelievable

PP is a troll who gets off on anonymously bullying people online. Total loser. Don’t give that trash the satisfaction.

Thank you. You’re right. It was just bad, veeery bad first day. Things will improve but I’m done at the end of this year. Thanks for the perspective!😌

Isn't that what you said last year. Please just quit. I'm not a troll. Folks like you are destroying our profession. If you don't want to be there leave instead of dragging down the rest of your coworkers.

I’m another teacher. Perhaps you are blessed with a good assignment somewhere. Guess what? A lot of your fellow teachers are not. There are tremendously bad conditions in various schools and districts. I should know. I worked in a toxic environment for years before switching to a school with a thoughtful, dedicated administration that respects its teachers. Not everyone has that. If you are a teacher with a good placement, great! However, you don’t get to speak for the many others who have it hard. Very hard.

Stressed teacher: ignore this person. The irony of them saying that YOU are dragging them down simply by acknowledging the reality that some teachers face. Teachers who can’t support other teachers are the truly toxic ones.

[Anonymous]

I think I found the answer to OPs question:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1079069.page

[Anonymous]

Give visas to teachers from India.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Give visas to teachers from India.

LOL. This would be good. I would love for you to try it!

You think American parents are wild and crazy now? Just see what happens when a bunch of teachers from India come in and begin to discipline the wild hyenas that have been unleashed in American public school classrooms. It would be funny if it wasn't so horrifying to me knowing that I would have to deal with the aftermath. There is no way that American parents are willing to accept that their children aren't perfect angels who never do anything wrong.

You have no idea what you're saying, PP. Frankly, you would probably be the first one planting his a$$ in my office complaining that a "blankety-blank-blank teacher from India dared, DARED, to discipline my sweet boyo who really didn't mean it when he sent that spitwad flying into her face and then laughed. It was a joke, a JOKE! Can't she take a JOKE?"

- A Principal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think I found the answer to OPs question:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1079069.page

That is such a horrible thread. It really does illustrate why teachers would want to leave.

[Anonymous]

We have teachers from the Philippines and they are terrible with discipline. They were shocked at student's behaviors. They said students don't act like that at home. Great teachers though but no behavior management skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t believe that there still aren’t protests in the streets from teachers about least restrictive environment. Yet they’re stressed out and quitting in droves. Do you guys not realize that the public would be behind you on this? You just need to make some noise so lawmakers notice the problem and start asking the public what they want. Laws can be changed.

You want schools to segregate kids with developmental disabilities into separate classrooms? No, the public would not be behind you on that. Particularly not once parents of those children told their side of it.

The “f ‘em” attitude that the DMV has for children with autism, ADHD, and other developmental disorders is pretty incredible. Particularly from teachers.

Not all disabilities are the same. And some really don’t belong in mainstream classes.

Teachers don’t need to evacuate classrooms if a kid needs a bit more time with a reading tutor each week.

I agree. As the parent of a child who was routinely abused by a special needs child, I object to that child being in a regular classroom. His behavioral issues were dangerous and very disruptive on the class. This child had multiple tantrums daily. In several cases, the rest of the children were required to immediately get up and move into the hallway while the teacher called a special ed specialist to the classroom to handle the child. 25 other children lost learning time multiple times daily due to this behavior. This child also threw things. My child was hit in the by a thrown hard-bound book and was choked by the child when my child picked up a book that the other child wanted. This child hit another child with a chair one day in one of his tantrums. Partway through the school year one of the para-professionals had to be assigned full-time, 1:1 to this child just to make it through the school day. But the IEP for this child did not allow the child to be removed from the classroom and the IEP-required responses to the child meant that it disrupted the learning of the other 25 students more than once daily for the entire school year.

We were so lucky that this family moved out of our school zone into another school zone. I have no problems with non-disruptive children being in regular classrooms, but physically abusive and disruptive children need to be segregated from the regularly classrooms. I complained multiple times about the physical abuse and the school counselor and administration replied that they were limited in what they were allowed to do by the school district mandated IEP for this child and the responses allowed.

I think we need to find a middle ground or better practices on how to determine what is the least restrictive environment that is more thoughtful on the impact on everyone or I fear special education is going to lose a lot of the progress that has been made.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The average salary in the us is in the 40s

Teacher salaries are know when people choose the career

Teachers love to complain

The average salary for college-educated people? How about master's degree?

Except an M.Ed isn’t equivalent to an M.S. Compare apples to apples. What do you think the average English major makes?

Well? What are the numbers? Not $40k.

How much does an average college grad make right out of school?

Crickets. Guess you aren’t very good with numbers.

Here you go:
https://www.forbes.com/advisor/student-loans/average-salary-college-graduates/

The average college grad makes $59,600 in 2022.

The average for young teachers is $39,000.

That $20k gap is the issue. In fact, the average college grad even makes MORE than an experienced teacher ($51,000).


We need to pay teachers more to attract and retain good teachers. Period. There may be other contributing factors but it really all comes down to money. You get what you pay for. No money, no teachers.

Georgetown looked at recent college grad salaries broken down by major. Education majors did well compared to everyone except for those with a handful of STEM-related degrees.
https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/valueofcollegemajors/

This! In our capitalistic society, pay is based on educational rigor/difficulty and specialization. Pay for educators is in line with what is to be expected based on the difficulty of obtaining the degree. You cant speak out against communism and then show disdain for capitalism whenever you lack profit.

The teacher shortage could be reversed by reducing educational and licensing requirements. Most teachers do not need a master's degree as most learning happens in the field. This would increase the number of teachers and reduce wages thereby enabling more teachers to be hired in classrooms. If every classroom K-12 had 1-2 assistants, teacher workload would be reduced, morale would increase because there would be more support, and children would win.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If money was so important to you why did you pick teaching.

I don't know any other profession that is so unprofessional.

Pat yourself on the back, poster, because after a day one where I was both kicked and smeared with food (both intentionally), your thoughtless and hurtful comment just sent me right over the edge. Quitting. Done. Outta here. You have NO idea what it’s like. I hope you do not have a child in need of an education because comments like yours are the mail on the coffin for stressed educators. Do you even feel a tiny bit of regret? Or are you perfectly satisfied to have kicked people when they’re down and spat on them to. Unbelievable

PP is a troll who gets off on anonymously bullying people online. Total loser. Don’t give that trash the satisfaction.

You do not know me so I have no idea why you’re asking if that’s what I said last year. I was injured by a student on the first day. Sounds like that wouldn’t bother you a bit and you certainly wouldn’t speak of it to your colleagues so as not to drag them down. Empathy matters.

Thank you. You’re right. It was just bad, veeery bad first day. Things will improve but I’m done at the end of this year. Thanks for the perspective!😌

Isn't that what you said last year. Please just quit. I'm not a troll. Folks like you are destroying our profession. If you don't want to be there leave instead of dragging down the rest of your coworkers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If money was so important to you why did you pick teaching.

I don't know any other profession that is so unprofessional.

Pat yourself on the back, poster, because after a day one where I was both kicked and smeared with food (both intentionally), your thoughtless and hurtful comment just sent me right over the edge. Quitting. Done. Outta here. You have NO idea what it’s like. I hope you do not have a child in need of an education because comments like yours are the mail on the coffin for stressed educators. Do you even feel a tiny bit of regret? Or are you perfectly satisfied to have kicked people when they’re down and spat on them to. Unbelievable

PP is a troll who gets off on anonymously bullying people online. Total loser. Don’t give that trash the satisfaction.

Thank you. You’re right. It was just bad, veeery bad first day. Things will improve but I’m done at the end of this year. Thanks for the perspective!😌

Isn't that what you said last year. Please just quit. I'm not a troll. Folks like you are destroying our profession. If you don't want to be there leave instead of dragging down the rest of your coworkers.

I’m another teacher. Perhaps you are blessed with a good assignment somewhere. Guess what? A lot of your fellow teachers are not. There are tremendously bad conditions in various schools and districts. I should know. I worked in a toxic environment for years before switching to a school with a thoughtful, dedicated administration that respects its teachers. Not everyone has that. If you are a teacher with a good placement, great! However, you don’t get to speak for the many others who have it hard. Very hard.

Stressed teacher: ignore this person. The irony of them saying that YOU are dragging them down simply by acknowledging the reality that some teachers face. Teachers who can’t support other teachers are the truly toxic ones.

Thank you, supportive colleague!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t believe that there still aren’t protests in the streets from teachers about least restrictive environment. Yet they’re stressed out and quitting in droves. Do you guys not realize that the public would be behind you on this? You just need to make some noise so lawmakers notice the problem and start asking the public what they want. Laws can be changed.

You want schools to segregate kids with developmental disabilities into separate classrooms? No, the public would not be behind you on that. Particularly not once parents of those children told their side of it.

The “f ‘em” attitude that the DMV has for children with autism, ADHD, and other developmental disorders is pretty incredible. Particularly from teachers.

Yes, we want disruptive kids in separate classes. Yes, the “public” would go for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t believe that there still aren’t protests in the streets from teachers about least restrictive environment. Yet they’re stressed out and quitting in droves. Do you guys not realize that the public would be behind you on this? You just need to make some noise so lawmakers notice the problem and start asking the public what they want. Laws can be changed.

You want schools to segregate kids with developmental disabilities into separate classrooms? No, the public would not be behind you on that. Particularly not once parents of those children told their side of it.

The “f ‘em” attitude that the DMV has for children with autism, ADHD, and other developmental disorders is pretty incredible. Particularly from teachers.

Yes, we want disruptive kids in separate classes. Yes, the “public” would go for that.

Maybe move the black and brown kids out too so you can bring back the good ol’ days?

Sure, it will be separate, but this time we’ll make sure it’s equal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t believe that there still aren’t protests in the streets from teachers about least restrictive environment. Yet they’re stressed out and quitting in droves. Do you guys not realize that the public would be behind you on this? You just need to make some noise so lawmakers notice the problem and start asking the public what they want. Laws can be changed.

You want schools to segregate kids with developmental disabilities into separate classrooms? No, the public would not be behind you on that. Particularly not once parents of those children told their side of it.

The “f ‘em” attitude that the DMV has for children with autism, ADHD, and other developmental disorders is pretty incredible. Particularly from teachers.

Yes, we want disruptive kids in separate classes. Yes, the “public” would go for that.

I agree. While there is sympathy for kids with developmental disabilities, we've gone overboard in accommodating them. Yes, we should provide support in place for those who need help, but are not disruptive. But at this point, there are quite a number of very violent, tempermental and disruptive children with various special needs who should not be accommodated in the classroom with NT children. As I mentioned above, my child was in a class with one of these children and 25 children had significant disruptions to their class. Many children that shared a class with this child had physical injuries from this child's tantrums (including mine). But the child's IEP said that they needed to handle the child in class. On numerous occasions when he had one of his fits, 25 other children had to file out into the hallway and spend half of a class in the hallway while a specialist that was not in the class had to come and calm him down sufficient to allow the class to resume. Children were frequently struck by thrown items: books, toys, furniture. On one day, a $400 chromebook was thrown on the ground.

Children who become physically disruptive and aggressive need to be removed from the regular classrooms. Public schools should NOT be required to handle such children in the mainstream classrooms.

Yes, the majority of the public would be behind that. Not all learning disabled children are equal and can be equally handled by instructors without special training and they should not have to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t believe that there still aren’t protests in the streets from teachers about least restrictive environment. Yet they’re stressed out and quitting in droves. Do you guys not realize that the public would be behind you on this? You just need to make some noise so lawmakers notice the problem and start asking the public what they want. Laws can be changed.

You want schools to segregate kids with developmental disabilities into separate classrooms? No, the public would not be behind you on that. Particularly not once parents of those children told their side of it.

The “f ‘em” attitude that the DMV has for children with autism, ADHD, and other developmental disorders is pretty incredible. Particularly from teachers.

Yes, we want disruptive kids in separate classes. Yes, the “public” would go for that.

I agree. While there is sympathy for kids with developmental disabilities, we've gone overboard in accommodating them. Yes, we should provide support in place for those who need help, but are not disruptive. But at this point, there are quite a number of very violent, tempermental and disruptive children with various special needs who should not be accommodated in the classroom with NT children. As I mentioned above, my child was in a class with one of these children and 25 children had significant disruptions to their class. Many children that shared a class with this child had physical injuries from this child's tantrums (including mine). But the child's IEP said that they needed to handle the child in class. On numerous occasions when he had one of his fits, 25 other children had to file out into the hallway and spend half of a class in the hallway while a specialist that was not in the class had to come and calm him down sufficient to allow the class to resume. Children were frequently struck by thrown items: books, toys, furniture. On one day, a $400 chromebook was thrown on the ground.

Children who become physically disruptive and aggressive need to be removed from the regular classrooms. Public schools should NOT be required to handle such children in the mainstream classrooms.

Yes, the majority of the public would be behind that. Not all learning disabled children are equal and can be equally handled by instructors without special training and they should not have to.

I only speak for myself as the parent to a special needs child, we would love if our children were in settings that did not create a recipe for a meltdown and disruption. The current system is a failure based system. Until our children lose control, meltdown, show they aren't learning or aren't progressing or any other major documented failure, they are not given any resources or placement in an "appropriate for them" setting.

Please remember that a disruptive child is probably not a happy and learning child. If they are disabled, like my own, there are frustrated and heartbroken parents begging for help for the child as well.

We all want the best for our children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t believe that there still aren’t protests in the streets from teachers about least restrictive environment. Yet they’re stressed out and quitting in droves. Do you guys not realize that the public would be behind you on this? You just need to make some noise so lawmakers notice the problem and start asking the public what they want. Laws can be changed.

You want schools to segregate kids with developmental disabilities into separate classrooms? No, the public would not be behind you on that. Particularly not once parents of those children told their side of it.

The “f ‘em” attitude that the DMV has for children with autism, ADHD, and other developmental disorders is pretty incredible. Particularly from teachers.

Yes, we want disruptive kids in separate classes. Yes, the “public” would go for that.

I agree. While there is sympathy for kids with developmental disabilities, we've gone overboard in accommodating them. Yes, we should provide support in place for those who need help, but are not disruptive. But at this point, there are quite a number of very violent, tempermental and disruptive children with various special needs who should not be accommodated in the classroom with NT children. As I mentioned above, my child was in a class with one of these children and 25 children had significant disruptions to their class. Many children that shared a class with this child had physical injuries from this child's tantrums (including mine). But the child's IEP said that they needed to handle the child in class. On numerous occasions when he had one of his fits, 25 other children had to file out into the hallway and spend half of a class in the hallway while a specialist that was not in the class had to come and calm him down sufficient to allow the class to resume. Children were frequently struck by thrown items: books, toys, furniture. On one day, a $400 chromebook was thrown on the ground.

Children who become physically disruptive and aggressive need to be removed from the regular classrooms. Public schools should NOT be required to handle such children in the mainstream classrooms.

Yes, the majority of the public would be behind that. Not all learning disabled children are equal and can be equally handled by instructors without special training and they should not have to.

I only speak for myself as the parent to a special needs child, we would love if our children were in settings that did not create a recipe for a meltdown and disruption. The current system is a failure based system. Until our children lose control, meltdown, show they aren't learning or aren't progressing or any other major documented failure, they are not given any resources or placement in an "appropriate for them" setting.

Please remember that a disruptive child is probably not a happy and learning child. If they are disabled, like my own, there are frustrated and heartbroken parents begging for help for the child as well.

We all want the best for our children.

+1 We need universal design for learning principles/technologies in the classrooms to more readily accommodate the 85%+ situations where that is all that is needed for students with disabilities--just make it matter of course for all students so it's seamless no need for a lot of current IEPs. Then layer that with some IEPs that add additional supports for the remaining 12% or so of students with disabilities who can be successful with a little more support beyond universal design for learning. The remaining 3% or so of students with disabilities who cannot currently successfully function in a mainstream classroom regardless of reasonable supports would have more targeted, intensive supports in a separate setting that would increase the chance they will be able to find success in the mainstream classroom but don't disrupt the learning environment for others in the moment. As it currently stands the classrooms do not follow Universal Design principles, triggering more meltdowns and difficulties learning than needed, teachers are overwhelmed by the number and the demands of IEPs, and the squeaky wheel parents of kids with disabilities are getting the resources while many of those who need them most are not.