Don't Ignore the Teacher Shortage

A crisis isn't on the horizon, it is already here

Photo by Hans on Unsplash

Yes, this is another piece about our nation’s teacher shortage.

Yes, the limited supply of teachers is real - and it is creating real and long-term challenges for schools.

Anne Lutz Fernandez offers some additional insight:

The shortage is of course a matter of movement into and out of the field. There aren’t enough teachers on the way in: the pipeline is bad as interest in the career has plummeted, with the percent of college grads entering the profession lower than it’s been in a half century.

An Empty Pipeline

Fernandez notes this shortage has been brewing for some time:

In surveys and interviews, teachers across the country shared their rising stress from the failings of federal testing and “accountability” regimes, the villainizing of educators by political leaders and much media, greater micromanagement of curriculum and instruction, the effects of widespread poverty, and chronic underfunding.

Why don’t today’s college students want to teach?

Teaching is attracting fewer candidates because students and career-changers see a field that, as the Chalkbeat panelists noted, pays much less than others requiring similar education levels, provides limited recognition for success, and allows less flexibility as more employers offer work from home options.

And, well, the problem feeds on itself:

The unfilled spots that result from turnover and the inability to recruit qualified candidates makes the job harder for teachers who stay. Remaining teachers lose valued and experienced partners, are asked to train replacements, and must provide remediation for students who’ve been taught by a series of substitutes or novice teachers. These teachers aren’t just working harder, they are more stressed, have less time for their students, and can become less effective. It causes some to look toward the exit themselves. Making the job harder, of course, makes it more difficult to recruit.

The Teacher Shortage Reality

There’s no single solution.

Better pay would help, sure. People may be willing to put up with otherwise unpleasant conditions if the money is significantly better than current teacher compensation.

But, money alone won’t solve the issues. Or, at least money directed at pay. Teaching also requires resources - teachers shouldn’t be buying their own classroom supplies, and classroom supply “wish lists” should simply be items considered necessary and provided by district budgets.

What about support around discipline?

And ever-present devices?

Some districts are moving forward with limits on cell phone use - and perhaps that will help.

States are likely best able to assist by directing additional funds to compensation and to the provision of resources, including funding for adequate facilities.