“What do you want to be when you grow up?”
I distinctly remember that several students, including myself, would say that we wanted to be “teachers” when we grew up — wanting to be like the supportive, second-parent teachers from elementary school. Today, it is unlikely to see high schoolers aspire to step into the education industry. Public school districts across the country struggle to fill teaching positions, as the United States faces a grave teacher shortage. According to a nationwide survey, one in three teachers say that they are likely to leave the industry and find a new job in the next two years.
The education industry is often deprofessionalized in the eyes of high school and college students pursuing higher education. They witness public school teachers work long, unrecognized hours — often teaching hundreds of students across periods with little appreciation. Burnout, inadequate pay, and an overloading of work doesn’t make it the most enticing career option.
This problem is exacerbated as public schools struggle to retain qualified educators. According to a Merrimack College survey, 45% of existing teachers say that they do not feel respected as professionals by the general public. With the rise of gun violence in the country, teachers also worry about a mass shooting occurring at their schools. CNN reports that 41 school shootings have taken place in K-12 schools across the nation after the Uvalde school shooting in May 2022. Another unique problem that educators battle with, especially in the Bay Area, is the lack of affordable housing near their school districts. Teacher salaries are not keeping up with inflation, and educators often have to take on extra work outside of school to make ends meet.
As the country battles this crisis, the teacher to student ratio increases across schools, and under-qualified substitutes are employed to fill up openings. Learning Policy Institute (LPI) discusses that 1 in 10 teacher positions are vacant, or taught by someone uncertified for the subject. After their homes, students spend the most amount of time at school, and having disengaged, overworked teachers can make classes miserable for students. As teachers show up to the classroom unprepared and are spread thin in large classrooms, it is easier for students to fall behind.
Some districts are turning to unique solutions. Reach University offers paraprofessionals, custodians, and bus drivers free teacher certification training, and it has helped 1,300 people up to date. The Mountain View School District plans to build $122 billion in affordable housing for educators in the area. In addition to the urgent need for salary increases, schools should prioritize the establishment of support systems for teachers’ mental well-being and actively embrace a diverse range of educators from various sexual orientations, ethnicities, and backgrounds.
We’ve all met at least one teacher in our academic careers that left a lasting imprint on us. Teachers have the ability to change life trajectories as they guide and support their students everyday. Our country is in dire need of influential educators who shape the future generations of individuals, and empower them to create an impact on our world.
