Hello everyone! It’s no secret that teachers are leaving teaching. Many people outside of education don’t know why… so I asked educators to tell them.
In this episode, I let the voices of real teachers tell the reasons. I let them voice their concerns in hopes that we can begin to educate people on the realities of the classroom today, not the classrooms people project onto us.
I asked. Teachers answered. Share widely. Join the discussion.
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Roy’s Perspective:
- “Health insurance is horrible compared to private companies. I pay so much more than when I worked as a reporter, and they cover less.”
- “Students have changed A LOT in 15 years. More disrespect, poor behavior, not turning in work, and the teachers get blamed when they can’t really do much to make a kid act right and do the work.”
- “A system so focused on testing that teacher freedom and flexibility are gone. Everybody has to follow a prescribed plan, and deviation leads to reprimand.”
- “Lessons are focused on just meeting the standards, not critical thinking or higher-level assignments requiring students to create real deliverable products of learning.”
- “Changing rules, conflicting advice, and requirements lead to whiplash for teachers.”
🗣 Vicki’s Concerns:
- “Workload and demands are increasing exponentially while compensation and benefits remain the same.”
- “Lots of disrespect from students and parents.”
- “Less support from admin (district and campus).”
- “Teachers blamed for everything from kids not being motivated to learn and work to scores on tests.”
- “Lack of autonomy and control over our teaching.”
- “No substitutes available.”
- “Not enough days to take off when we need to.”
🗣 Elizabeth’s Breaking Point:
- “There are a few things, but health insurance was the straw that broke the camel’s back.”
🗣 Nestor’s Observation:
- “Some teachers leave because of the admin’s lack of teacher support.”
🗣 Thazin’s Insight:
- “Teachers are not leaving teaching. They are leaving a system. Many of us still teach because we love to, just not in a system anymore.”
🗣 Carolyn’s Accountability Concerns:
- “Lack of consequences and accountability for disgusting behavior from students and parents.”
🗣 Todd’s Experience:
- “Left after 29 years because of a lack of respect, no administrative support, and student behavior. When students are allowed to run the school with no consequences, it’s not worth my mental wellbeing to continue teaching.”
🗣 Benita’s Grievances:
- “Overworked, underpaid, disrespected daily, unappreciated, and devalued! That’s why we are LEAVING!”
🗣 Janett’s Dilemma:
- “Low pay and ‘teaching for the test’ take the joy out of teaching.”
🗣 Margaret’s Reflection:
- “Understaffed, lack of support, no respect from students, administrators, and parents always thinking my child would never do that.”
🗣 Sarah’s Societal Observation:
- “It’s not just teachers. People are leaving the work field in almost all areas.”
🗣 Claire’s Struggle:
- “We’re overloaded and overwhelmed with a major lack of support, sometimes from admin, sometimes from policies that keep class sizes high and limit support staff.”
🗣 Heidi’s Daily Challenges:
- “So tired of the massive pressure to ‘get kids on grade level’ with absolutely no way to do it.”
🗣 Albert’s Historical Perspective:
- “Teaching is no different; 50 years ago, we (teachers) were allowed more freedom to explore, express, and become creative in our classrooms.”
🗣 Lucielle’s Focus Loss:
- “Working for a program that does not value you or support you makes many teachers lose their focus.”
🗣 Carole’s Broken System:
- “Too many kids in the classroom, hard to meet students’ needs. Cutting budgets and general fund money forces schools to cut staff, leading to more stress on the teacher.”
🗣 Omar’s System Critique:
- “It’s the hardest job in the world. The problem is not teaching itself; it’s the rigged system and the greedy ignorant people on top.”
🗣 Sharon’s Stress Factors:
- “Lack of respect from students, parents, even administrators. Stress on testing & scores rather than individual progress.”
🗣 CassieAnne’s Societal Reflection:
- “Behavior from people in general has degraded, not just kids. Everyone in every field is more stressed because human interaction has become so awful.”
These voices collectively echo the complex challenges faced by teachers, shedding light on the multifaceted reasons behind the teacher exodus from the education system. Urgent reforms are needed to address these issues and ensure the sustainability of quality education