The Teacher Shortage Reality

Will policymakers even begin to address the problem?

Photo by Wonderlane on Unsplash

Peter Greene addresses current discourse around the shortage of teachers. As Greene notes, just because I can’t buy a Porsche for $1.98, doesn’t mean there is a Porsche shortage.

Teaching and the $1.98 Porsche

Instead, the value proposition for teaching turns out to not be so great.

Greene notes:

When I conclude that there’s a Porsche shortage because I can’t buy one for $1.98, I am really arguing that the problem is not me, and therefore the solution does not rest with me. And that kind of thinking continues to be a problem with the troubles with recruiting and retaining teachers. “There’s a teacher shortage” is too easily interpreted by policy makers as “Kids These Days just don’t have the proper attitude toward service.” And the “shortage” frame leads to terrible solutions like creating a program in a box that any shmoe can deliver effectively, or hiring anyone with a pulse to stand in a classroom.

Why might college students be wary of entering teaching? Greene offers just a few reasons:

Barnum and Fernandez note several of the obvious reasons that teaching is a less attractive profession these days. Low pay, especially if you compare it to the pay for similarly-educated professions. The rising tide of bad behavior from students. The onslaught of attention-sapping technology. The insistence that good education is only for the right people and for other people we just need schools to crank out compliant meat widgets to serve corporate overlords.

And, well, there’s a lot of negativity when teaching - formerly one of America’s most revered professions - is discussed:

There is the absolute unrelenting negativity directing at the profession. Twenty years ago, American schools were failing, and it was all teachers’ fault. Then teachers were run down as groomers and pedophiles. Then they were part of the evil conspiracy behind COVID. Commies and traitors! If you aren’t on the ground, in schools, I’m not sure you can really grasp just how relentless and ugly the steady denigration of teachers has been in this country for the past few decades. And the folks who could be the next generation of teachers have had a front row seat.

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.

Policymakers should take a look at the value proposition for teaching- and then take action(s) that measurably improve that proposition. A good starting place for this discussion? Talking to actual classroom teachers to see what they most want to make their work more attractive.