opinion

Where have all the teachers gone?: Whitener

What is the key element that must be in place for our children to get a good education in an increasingly complex world? Your child can best answer this question, and the answer will undoubtedly be ”my teacher.”

The sad reality of today is the fact that our teachers are disappearing at a disturbing rate. In 1975, 22 percent of college students were majoring in education. Contrast this data with the fact that in 2017, 4.6 percent of college freshmen were majoring in education. We have a looming teacher shortage that has already began to appear in our local schools, especially in math, science and special education.

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If you want to know why teachers are leaving the field rapidly without replacements to take their place, ask a teacher. You probably will hear comments about low pay, student loans, fanatic test score pressures and increased class sizes. Let us never forget that a teacher with 33 fifth graders has a demanding day, but also a long evening correcting 33 tests and preparing challenging lesson plans that must be individualized.

Many teachers have stayed in the profession because of the rewards they get from seeing their students grow and the gratitude they receive from some parents, but this is increasingly not enough. Something has to be done at the government level to save this profession.

The federal response to this educational crisis has been ...? Donald Trump’s only reference to teachers in the past year has been to put guns in their hands. As the deficit reaches $1 trillion in 2020 and $2 trillion in 2028, there will be no money for education. State governments are being squeezed because they must fund social programs that are no longer funded by the federal government.

The Nevada response to the teacher shortage has been to reduce the state training requirements for teacher credentials, instead of raising teacher salaries appreciably. Class sizes are being raised slowly statewide and teacher evaluations are increasingly focusing on test scores. Are we taking the right measures to put well-trained teachers in front of our children come this August? I don’t think so.

The answers to this educational crisis are difficult to deliver. I think we must begin by asking our national, state and local politicians whether or not they support the education of our students and how they will address our teacher shortage. Teacher raises, student loan relief and better working conditions are immediate remedies that come to my mind.

Lastly, there is something we can all do: Take the time to thank your child’s teacher for the effort he or she is making to educate our children. A sincere message of appreciation goes a long way.

Douglas Whitener is a retired WCSD principal who has spent 45 years in education and presently serves as a board member for High Desert Montessori School.