Tuesday, August 29, 2017

CNN DISCOVERS THERE'S A NATIONAL TEACHER SHORTAGE

CNN did a somewhat lengthy piece on the nationwide K-12 teaching shortage. That is a positive development. They go through what is causing the shortage and mention lower salaries and the job being too demanding. Those are two causes of teachers leaving for sure but I think they omit one of the primary causes of the teaching shortage.

No doubt the lack of respect teachers receive, especially from the politicians, celebrities and billionaires who constantly bash us is taking its toll. It is no surprise to me or to anyone who reads this blog that teaching programs in colleges are under-enrolled.

From CNN:

Is there help on the way?

Probably not soon. The supply of aspiring teachers has been dwindling.
Nationwide, teacher education enrollments dropped 35% between 2009 and 2014, the most recent year for which data are available, according to the Learning Policy Institute

A survey at UCLA found that freshmen's interest in teaching as a career has steadily declined over the past decade.

Who wants to be be blamed for the failures of society as a career choice?

As per usual in the press these days, there is no teacher interviewed in this piece. Who does CNN interview to discuss a teacher shortage?

A couple of people from universities and a high school principal. Why bother to interview a teacher? The latest reporter who doesn't bother to quote a real live working teacher is CNN's Caitlin Ostroff. I guess we don't know anything about why teachers leave.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

And the answer is, the blame should go to the students, who walk into the buildings with the entitlement, welfare complex, knowing they can disrespect and abuse us, as they already have criminal backgrounds 10 miles long. Since there is a shortage, and out contract expires, and we gave back so much last time, now would be a good time to get the city to agree to a 4 year, 16% deal...And get legislation to get the TDA back to 8.25%.

James Eterno said...

Unruly students might be a problem in certain areas but not nationally. 16% for four years and how would you convince the mayor to do that? Not happening even if there are no teachers. They would rather open up the job to high school dropouts than pay NYC teachers Yonkers teacher wages.

Anonymous said...

That's very true. It's all about money. When fast food workers were demanding $15 an hour, the fast food companies said we have the machines ready to roll and we'll get rid of all of you. It'll be the same with teaching sooner rather than later - on line classes, assessments and no need for those high salaried teachers. They'll have the excuse of a teacher shortage, but it's the money. All that's need is someone to oversee the room, the equipment and keep the kids in their seats logged on. The sad thing is the kids will learn more on line than with the Danielson group nonsense. The UFT is not a viable union, sorry to say.

Anonymous said...

Howd the city get us to agree in 2014?

Anonymous said...

The societal teacher bashing is coupled with in your face teacher harassment in the schools. It is challenging to maintain one's composure when inundated with constant criticism and belittlement.

Abigail Shure

Anonymous said...

They told Mulgrew the city has no money in 2014 and Mulgrew said then I guess we will have to loan the city some money interest free. Letting the city pay back most of it in 2018, 2019 and 2020 sounded good to our union boss too as did higher copays for GHI and HIP. Dumb or corrupt? What's the difference? We lose and then 75% of the teachers voted for the shit.

Anonymous said...

Fear. Fear is a major reason why there is a teacher shortage. "Gotcha" evaluation systems stoke fear into the hearts of every single teacher in my school. Is today going to be the day for a drive by Danielson observation? Nobody wants to go work in a school where the main theme is fear.

Anonymous said...

Under that theory, Mulgrew should tell the city that the last deal was a joke, we did them a huge favor since it was for so many years, so backloaded, 11 year wait for retro, 1.5% per year, add in the abuse and disrespect and we are ready to walk out. Surely the city will buy in...

Anonymous said...

More likely the city will tell the unions they are broke again and we'll buy it.

Anonymous said...

UFT set the "pattern bargining". NYC unions will never see decent raises again.

Anonymous said...

There should be a teacher shortage for what is going on in education and ruining educators' careers. With so many other career opportuntities for younger people, who wants to work in a school. This along with the rest - no respect, harassment, evaluations by many incompetent/unknowledgeable administrators that just want to sink people's careers so that theirs is elevated, etc. Educators now work out of fear. It's not able loving the work that you do anymore and developing as a professional. Administrators don't want a lifelong educator anymore. Even if you do get along with your administration, don't dare cross "the line" and how about getting a new principal/administrator. There have been students and parents that are conscious of the injustice that is being committed and have expressed that it's not the educators, it's the students the majority of the time.

Anonymous said...

I for one welcome the teacher shortage with open arms. I got hired back in the mid 1990's when there was a huge teacher shortage. Back then admins left us alone and even valued veteran teachers due to the huge amount of new teachers with no experience who were getting hired.

Anonymous said...

Two of Maine’s largest public sector labor unions have agreed to eliminate the requirement that all employees pay union fees whether or not they are members.

The votes represent a significant victory for Republican Gov. Paul LePage in his years-long power struggle with organized labor in Maine, a key ally of Democrats and rank-and-file state workers who have resisted some of his efforts to shrink or change state government.

David Heidrich, a spokesman for the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, said Thursday morning that the Maine State Employees Association, which represents more than 9,000 executive branch employees, and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which represents approximately 800 corrections officers and mental health workers, notified the state Wednesday that they have ratified two-year contracts.

Both unions eliminated agency fees in exchange for higher raises than the state was offering otherwise, and both unions will receive raises of 6 percent spread over the next two years, according to Heidrich.

MSEA negotiators had tentatively agreed to that deal but AFSCME negotiators had initially refused to budge on the agency fees elimination and had agreed to a total 1 percent raise. AFSCME’s members rejected that agreement last week but ratified the second deal Wednesday, Heidrich said in an email to the Bangor Daily News. Union officials did not immediately respond to questions.

“We’re very pleased that the burden of service fees is no longer hanging over the heads of our nonmember employees,” Heidrich wrote.

Anonymous said...

It's time for the over/under...How many people will be shot or stabbed in Brooklyn at the parade? Of course its all about heritage and taxpayer giveaways, which turns deadly every year, but wouldnt want to take that away, because its racist. And then we get cursed and abused by the same type next week.

Anonymous said...

I have been on with the UFT for months begging for ATR placement assistance, based on logical, contractual reasoning. Nothing but ignored. I welcome Janus, and will gladly resign or take a fair buyout.