Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

Have you seen the trend of industries where workers are leaving by choice, in multiple types of work? The latest group to be impacted are the children of America…how? Because since 1971 people going into the profession of education, to be teachers, has dropped 50%!! F.I.F.T.Y. Think about that…is it any wonder? (Lots of questions today, hmmm).

So, what would make the profession drop off gradually and in mass? As a former teacher, I can tell you many reasons myself. But what is happening beyond my experience to shape this new, sad reality is teachers are leaving and even not entering the profession, here’s why:

1. Lack of a good relationship or desire to deal with administration

2. Lack of appreciation, respect, recognition or validation

3. Negative public perception

4. Crappy pay for the amount of work done (seriously, when will society wake up?)

5. Having to supplement classroom supplies

6. Dealing with today’s students has only gotten more difficult

7. Dealing with today’s parents has only gotten more difficult

8. High student loans

9. Lack of job security

10. Alternative career options

11. Standardized testing pressures

12. Heavy workload (good teachers are given even more to do)

13. High stress levels

14. Increased behavior problems

15. Safety issues

Like many other problems in our society, destroying the teaching profession was purposeful…or at least willfully ignored for 5 decades and now it will be an even bigger crap shoot when kids enter a classroom with class size ever increasing.

If you started over, would you become a teacher?

Wishing you all the best, much love!

Dave