Why is there a teacher shortage?

[Anonymous]

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?

[Anonymous]

Pretty sure we all know the answer to this.

Low pay + long hours + low respect =/= high demand

[Anonymous]

My DD says that none of her friends' parents would pay for an education degree because it was seen as a low status, low pay field. A slightly older young woman who is a family friend became a teacher for a year and then quit because her parents offered to pay for grad school if she chose a less stressful career. She's studying public policy now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pretty sure we all know the answer to this.

Low pay + long hours + low respect =/= high demand

+ Impossible demands from administration

[Anonymous]

+ high class sizes and high needs populations
+ unreasonable evaluation demands based on "data"

People who do stay in "education" look for specialist and/or support positions outside the classroom. It's almost impossible to weather the stress of classroom teaching and make it a 30 year career anymore.

When you see teachers counting down to retirement from 10 years out, you've got a problem. Many are using more sick leave just for psychological breaks.

[Anonymous]

All the above. I quit teaching after four years. It's a hard job, especially at an urban, low income school like The one I was at.

[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?

Low pay, low respect, a lot of demands from administration and parents, not enough support for the kids who need it.

[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?

Low pay, low respect, a lot of demands from administration and parents, not enough support for the kids who need it.

And being expected to perform miracles and being blamed at the local, state and federal level when said miracles are not performed. Being told that progress isn't enough, there must be proficiency. Never mind that a student who came to you 3 years below grade level made 2 years of progress in one year. It's still not good enough. And if you had cared more and had worked harder, you could have gotten her to make the 3 years of progress needed to score proficient on the standardized test. But that didn't happen so you're not an effective educator.

[Anonymous]

No respect, and parents. They are often harder to deal with than the kids.

[Anonymous]

Do you even have to ask?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Low pay, low respect, a lot of demands from administration and parents, not enough support for the kids who need it.

And being expected to perform miracles and being blamed at the local, state and federal level when said miracles are not performed. Being told that progress isn't enough, there must be proficiency. Never mind that a student who came to you 3 years below grade level made 2 years of progress in one year. It's still not good enough. And if you had cared more and had worked harder, you could have gotten her to make the 3 years of progress needed to score proficient on the standardized test. But that didn't happen so you're not an effective educator.

Makes me wonder why there are as many teachers as there are. No thanks, not for me.

[Anonymous]

The paperwork, the never ending paperwork which leads to late nights and early mornings.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Also the training is crappy. I learned most of what I know from my internship (which was unpaid for a low paying job), on the job, professional reading, and maybe 1 in 5 trainings I attend are actually useful and not just some top down drivel.

I love teaching and helping kids. I'm extremely passionate about it and always want to do it better. I stay because I love the challenges and being creative when it comes to planning lessons and projects.

[Anonymous]

Where on earth did you get the idea that teachers are well paid?