Why Are So Many Teachers Leaving the Education Field?

Teaching.... is one of the most under appreciated fields in the world. We roll up our sleeves and work long hours to ensure that your child gets the education that they deserve. Teachers are counselors, nurses, and parents. It's so many roles squished into one yet we receive so much criticism for it which is why the teacher turnover rate is so high in the United States.

As someone who is working in the field and getting a master's degree in education, I can tell you that it's a rewarding but tough job. I'm sharing my experiences as well as my colleagues' experiences to explain why so many teachers leave this arduous industry.

1) The Pay is Too Low.

Teachers do this job because they're genuinely in for the kids and they have a strong passion to teach. It's one of the most selfless jobs but the pay is ridiculously low. Teachers have to work another job on top of this one to support themselves and their families. According to Education Week, even teachers that are paid the most in big cities like New York City, Washington D.C, and San Francisco are struggling financially because the cost of living is way too expensive. Teachers also have to buy school supplies and materials in the classroom for students who can't afford it. Not that there is anything wrong with helping students but with minimal help from the districts and the government, this makes it harder for teachers to stay in classrooms.

2) No Support

When the pandemic hit in 2020, no one knew what to expect especially for teachers and the future of the education system. Teachers were faced with a difficult choice... They had to choose between their careers and their lives. For some teachers, they had to turn off their classroom lights one last time. With the exception of some cities like New York City, Chicago, and some parts of California and Massachusetts, teachers fought in rallies and protests to stay remote because they were truly worried for lives and for their families especially people who lived with them that were seniors and people with existing health conditions. In other states, it wasn't even an option for teachers. We are often told to advocate for students because they are the future. I completely agree with this statement but as educators we often have to ask ourselves, who is truly advocating for us? Yes, we have a teacher's union but is it really the best union we got? After being beaten down and torn down so many times, when we tell these horrific stories that we've encountered in classrooms to teacher unions, all we get is a pat in the back and to just "deal with it". There is no action or change being done to protect and support teachers. The only best option for some educators is to leave.

3) Toxic workplace. He said... She said...

It's easier said than done when we try to speak up for ourselves. An outsider might think that every teacher and principal is kind and welcoming towards their colleagues but with every smile hides a sinister plan. Sometimes teachers have to watch their backs and even if they try to speak up, principals and assistant principals will do everything in their power to shut down teachers' voices and make them do what they say. I can name all the experiences that has happened over the past year and this year, where my colleagues and myself have faced disrespect from our higher ups. From being sexual harassed to having unprofessional long meetings for taking days off because of our health during a pandemic to a gay man being discriminated for wearing earrings, these are stories that educators have faced and questioned, is it really worth it? Even if we stand our ground and tell the higher ups how we feel, our opinions don't truly matter because they would react in a degrading, abrasive way. Being talked down to and treated as someone less? It's a toxic workplace that no one would want to grow in and call "home".

4) Long Hours... and Oh Yah, What is Mental Health? Never Heard of It...

There is one teacher that I pass by everyday and she is there from 6 in the morning and she leaves until 7 in the night. That takes dedication but I can also tell by how she looks and acts that she is truly tired. There were times where she would express that to me because that's how long the workload is. Sometimes, when people look at educators, they think that it's this easy job because when kids have school off, educators do too. Days off are a bonus but according to Vox, teachers on average work about 9 hours and a quarter a day which is almost 47 hours a week. It's a lot for one person to handle and with all the factors as mentioned above, it can cause a person to be stressed and burned out, counting down the days until the next break. With this many hours a day, teachers are only allowed to have a 30 minute break and when it comes to lesson planning time, it's barely impossible to plan their lessons with all the meetings they need to have with principals and parents. With it being a selfless job and the main focus are on the students, educators forget to take care of themselves too. Mental Health is still a taboo topic especially in the workplace when there should be transparent conversations about it. Even when educators do talk about it, it's still shut down. Similar to the pandemic situation, educators are faced with the choice of either choosing their lives or their careers.

What can you do about it?

There are plenty of more reasons why educators leave the field but these are the top 4. With so much going on, you're probably wondering well... what can I do to help?

1) Appreciate and thank an educator. They do so much for us and help shape our children's future. A little kindness goes a long way so say thank you and ask how you can help whether it's donating a school supply, bringing baked goods for bake sales or chaperoning during a field.

2) This one option seems out there but think about it.... Call your local district and call in about how teachers should be paid more. You would be surprised by how much they listen to a parent or a member of the school community. If one person chips in, then another would too. The ripple effect would begin until they bring it to the higher ups of the district and then their higher ups until a solution is solved.

This article is not intended to scare aspiring educators but to shed light on the experiences that has been happening now and for some years. As an educator, there are so many amazing benefits to teaching. You can definitely make a positive impact on a student's life. Who knows? I might teach for 10+ years but I don't know what the future holds. Maybe by then, there are some changes. However, if we choose to ignore and not confront the causes of so many teacher shortages in America, then we will be continue to have this damaging cycle.

Here are some resources I've learned from reading and watching these videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFqQm1541aA (Vox, Teaching in the U.S vs the World, 2020)

https://www.edweek.org/leadership/how-financial-stress-affects-teachers-in-one-of-the-countrys-most-expensive-cities/2018/06

About Raka Ahmed:

Raka Ahmed is a first generation Bangladeshi- American. She is also an aspiring middle grade and young adult author. Whenever Raka is not writing on Vocal, she teaches elementary students during the day. She currently resides in Dallas, Texas.