Teachers struggle to hold up a heavy weight, representing the factors that make their job difficult. These factors, including low pay, little support and lots of work, have contributed to the teacher shortage. “But… they’re just teachers, right? Why would they need a living wage or basic human respect?” Junior and Variety Editor Isabella Westrich wrote sarcastically. Illustration by Antonio Starks
The U.S. is facing a national teacher shortage, but what on earth could possibly be stopping people from being teachers?
Just like bread, soda, mustard and a multitude of other things, teachers are in short supply in the U.S. right now. But at least this problem is easy to fix: people just have to, like, teach. Right?
According to a Washington Post article published on Aug. 4, nationwide school staffing gaps are moving into the thousands. A Feb. 1 National Education Association survey found that 55% of educators are now planning to leave their jobs earlier than they originally intended. EducationWeek reported in a March 22 article that the number of people training to become teachers nationally has been steadily declining.
Sounds like teachers just need to get their acts together, huh?
The teacher shortage crisis has hit Athens, too. According to a June 6 article from Grady Newsource, during the 2021-22 school year, the lack of teachers affected Clarke County School District in grades K-12 and in a wide range of school subjects.
The Red&Black reported in a Feb. 11 article that four schools in the district switched to virtual learning for part of a week because not enough teachers and substitutes were available.
But… why?
Teachers have always had long hours, low pay, emotional exhaustion, huge responsibility and practically no support. Now there’s also the fun new development of increased school shootings, COVID exposures, virtual learning, political control in classrooms and post-COVID student behavior issues. Really, the question is who wouldn’t want to teach?
Teachers have always had long hours, low pay, emotional exhaustion, huge responsibility and practically no support. Now there’s also the fun new development of increased school shootings, COVID exposures, virtual learning, political control in classrooms and post-COVID student behavior issues.
Really, the question is who wouldn’t want to teach?
Clearly, the educational system could be reworked so that teachers weren’t paid 23.5 percent less than other college graduates in comparable career paths.
Lawmakers could stop inserting their political opinions into education by passing laws like Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which, according to a July 17 Victory Fund article, has left educators questioning how to best support their students without putting their jobs in jeopardy.
Some students and parents could start thinking about teachers as human beings before sending angry emails or making ranting phone calls.
Some students and parents could start thinking about teachers as human beings before sending angry emails or making ranting phone calls.
But… they’re just teachers, right? Why would they need a living wage or basic human respect?
At the end of the day, all teachers are really doing is expanding student’s minds, educating the next generation and shaping the future. Do they actually think they deserve decent pay for that? Ha!
Sounds like teachers still haven’t learned their lesson.
