National Teacher Shortage? Not so fast...

[DGS49]

MSN

While the actual data is sketchy,

• More teachers say they are going to quit than actually quit,
• A sharp decline in STUDENTS in many areas after the Pandemic creates its own problems,
• Most of the shortage problems are in Special Ed and STEM,
• Most of the problems are localized, and are in the same districts as before the Pandemic.

The story/myth is being propounded for political reasons and because the Media are crisis-friendly.

 

[1srelluc]

I think Virginia is down around 1K teachers and they act like it's the end of the world and the only thing that will "fix" it is "mo money".

Then it was found that being down 700-1K teachers is pretty normal in Virginia from year to year.

In fact a lot of it is due to teachers going into private school education.....It seems that there are a lot more private school enrolments in Virginia now than before the covid lock downs when parents with the means said "No Mas" to public education......That's a good thing IMHO.

 

[initforme]

There is no supply chain issues either. That's simply companies at fault.

 

[DGS49]

...which is NOT to say that there are not school districts out there who are not paying an appropriate wage, or who are not supporting their teachers appropriately vis a vis the students and parents.

 

[SweetSue92]

MSN

While the actual data is sketchy,

• More teachers say they are going to quit than actually quit,
• A sharp decline in STUDENTS in many areas after the Pandemic creates its own problems,
• Most of the shortage problems are in Special Ed and STEM,
• Most of the problems are localized, and are in the same districts as before the Pandemic.

The story/myth is being propounded for political reasons and because the Media are crisis-friendly.

The points you list make no sense to the shortage issue.

1. Of course more people SAY they're going to quit than do so. People are still quitting.

2. Whether or not student numbers decline is immaterial. Are there enough teachers?

3. If there aren't teachers there aren't teachers. Saying yeah well, the shortage is WORSE here doesn't negate the fact that there is a shortage.

4. Of course the problem is worse in some areas and better in others. Again, how does that negate the shortage? If if you have the flu, does the doc say you can't REALLY have the flu because your fever is worse than your headache? Or your muscle aches are worse than your cough so it doesn't count?

I just don't understand the point of this post.