Our classroom will eventually be empty!, The "teacher shortage" in the United States is escalating again. American media: another year of lack of educational support | teachers | education

On August 14th, China Daily reported that the phenomenon of "teacher shortage" in the United States is becoming increasingly severe, and many schools in different regions are once again entering a fierce "teacher competition".

Vance Warner is the head of a school in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, and as the new academic year approaches, he is desperately searching for teachers. He said that less than a month after leaving school, four teaching positions are still vacant, and he is even prepared to hire some people without teaching experience or training to fill some of the vacancies. "A storm is brewing in the education sector in the United States, especially in rural areas."

The article points out that many teachers are at the center of a cultural war. When American politicians repeatedly accuse them of trying to instill children's ideas and turning their teaching syllabus into campaign material, many education professionals in the country point out that the real problem with American education is the lack of teachers.

Mark Krausner, President of the Illinois Regional School Inspectors Association, said, "Initially, there was just a shortage of teachers, but later it became a 'teacher shortage', and now it has reached a 'disaster' level, and it is constantly escalating... Our children deserve better education. This is almost a 'crime', and if high-quality teachers cannot be found, alternative solutions can only be adopted." He pointed out that in a region in central Illinois, a high school did not hire a teacher who has obtained the corresponding curriculum certification.

School administrators pointed out that in order to address the shortage of manpower, they have once again relied on long-term substitute teachers this year, urgently hiring certified teachers without teaching qualifications or experience, and introducing teachers from overseas. Educators say that this means another year when students are unable to receive high-quality educational support. Standardized testing shows that students have fallen behind in some key areas.

Ed Fuller, a professor of education at Pennsylvania State University, emphasized that it is precisely when there is a need to accelerate learning that a "teacher shortage" occurs, which has a significant impact on children's learning.

There is almost no nationwide data in the United States showing how many teachers have resigned in recent years. According to surveys from different regions, teacher resignations are on the rise. According to Fuller's research, Pennsylvania had the largest increase in teacher turnover rate last year, with 7.7% of teachers leaving. In Washington State, the teacher turnover rate last year was 8.91%, the highest in 37 years. According to data from the Maine Public Employee Retirement System, over 2000 teachers and other educators resigned or retired in the state last year, the highest number in the past seven years.

At the same time, the number of college graduates engaged in teaching work has decreased. Teachers, managers, and researchers indicate that in the labor market, teacher salaries are relatively low, and political infighting puts teachers at the center of cultural wars such as race and gender, which also contributes to the trend of teacher turnover. "The position of a teacher now seems to lack respect," said Trina Berg, who teaches in the Phoenix Diocese. "Unfortunately, we have been attacked by different parent groups and political groups. Everything will accumulate on you."

Since 2010, the number of applicants for teaching licenses in Pennsylvania has decreased by 67%. To make up for the shortage, the state has been issuing more emergency teacher certificates, allowing individuals without teaching experience or training to become full-time teachers. Currently, the state issues more emergency teaching permits to recent college graduates than formal teacher certificates. Warner said that almost half of the 45 teachers hired in Mifflin County last year, as well as 75% of special education teachers, did not receive formal teacher training and worked under the state's emergency teacher certification program.

Joseph Torres, the dean of a primary school in Pennsylvania, said that our children are deeply affected. Torres said that in order to fill last year's personnel vacancy, he and his colleagues often held multiple positions. They are teachers, secretaries, gatekeepers, lunch managers

Ernest Williams has been switching back and forth between two particularly scarce areas in North Carolina - bus drivers and substitute teachers. Generally speaking, Williams starts driving buses at 6:15 am to pick up and drop off elementary school students from Vance County, and then serves as a third grade teaching assistant at the local elementary school. "I have to attend many classes because they can't find someone to substitute for me. I got off the school bus, checked in, and often the principal's assistant would say, 'We need you today, we can't find anyone,'" Williams said.

Wana from Mifflin County still holds hope that someone may lend a helping hand at the last moment, but he dare not have too high expectations. He said, "I'm trying to be optimistic that I can do it this year... but one day, our classroom will be empty."

Responsibility