For some states, the dream is to deprofessionalize teaching to declare any human with a pulse “qualified” to do the work of teaching. Paige Shoemaker DeMio points out that you do not solve a labor shortage by devaluing the work. Happy Labor Day.
As the new school year begins across the country, public schools are struggling to hire and retain qualified teachers. Fewer young adults are entering the profession, shortages remain high — especially in hard-to-staff subjects and regions — and school staffs lack the diversity of their student populations. In attempting to fill vacancies, lawmakers in Florida, New Hampshire and elsewhere have proposed cutting corners by reducing the qualifications necessary to become a licensed teacher. But as an education policy analyst and a former teacher, I know this is a mistake. Deprofessionalizing education only compounds the harm that staffing shortages inflict on students and communities. Moving forward means addressing the root cause: lack of respect for teachers.
Teaching public school during the first years of the Covid-19 pandemic, I experienced firsthand the treatment teachers face — and it was a roller coaster of a ride. One moment we were revered as hardworking heroes who care for children’s well-being and education. The next, we were called selfish and lazy by policymakers and the press alike. The infamous phrase “those who can’t do, teach” was weaponized against us. We were called insignificant at best, and manipulative at worst.
Teachers have never asked to be called heroes; we just want to be respected as experts in our field. Public perception of teachers in America plays out in the ways they’re treated, starting with salary. As any educator will tell you, they aren’t in it for the money. But it is simply insulting that teachers make an average of 26.4% less than professions with similar levels of education in America. This disparity has been growing since the 1990s, with no sign of a rebound on the horizon. For people committed to educating our nation’s future generations, this pay gap can feel like a slap in the face, neglecting both the importance of their role and the amount of work teachers devote to their craft.
