Why Teachers Are Leaving the Profession
Ask Students: What are some of the reasons teachers may be leaving the profession, according to this story? Why might some schools be having trouble filling open positions?
Why Are Teachers Quitting?
As students return to the classroom, many will come back to school districts that are understaffed. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 44 percent of public schools will report teaching vacancies at the start of this year, with more than half due to resignations. Teachers of the year Lee Allen and Qorsho Hassan join Geoff Bennett to discuss. For a transcript of this story, click here.
Discussion Questions
- Who is interviewed in this story, and what are their backgrounds?
- What are some of the reasons teachers may be leaving the profession, according to this story?
- Why might some schools be having trouble filling open positions?
- When did teacher staffing issues start to become an issue, according to this story?
- How might teacher shortages impact student education?
Focus Questions
What do you think are some of the most significant impacts on education that come from the issues discussed in this story? What do you think is the best way to recruit and retain talented educators in public schools?
Media Literacy: Are there teachers who you think might have a different perspective on the challenges that are leading to teacher shortages?
Additional Exercise: Teacher Talk
What students can do: Think of a teacher you can follow up with about this story in your school. Ask them their thoughts on the teacher shortage and if they think it’s a serious problem.
While some factors leading to teacher shortages may be unique to the United States, the pandemic has affected education around the globe. Watch the video below to find out how schools across the world have been impacted by COVID. You can also click here for a Daily News Lesson based on the video.
Republished with permission from PBS NewsHour Classroom.
PBS NewsHour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories.
