Further, "when indicators of teacher quality such as certification, relevant training, and experience, are taken into account, the shortage is more acute than currently estimated, with high-poverty schools suffering the most from the shortage of credentialed teachers."
Is it any wonder that the teacher shortage exists given working conditions in schools, concerns about safety and gun violence, ridiculous salaries, banned books, and overall stress elevated by state mandates and laws, disgruntled parents, and depressed students? It should come as no surprise that various states report "critical" shortages, according to the U.S. Department of Education. A survey released by the DOE last summer found that "nationwide, schools have about three unfilled teaching positions on average. More than 200,000 classrooms across the country are left without "qualified teachers. Some of those teachers aren't even required to have a college degree or any teacher training. In a country like ours, that is a stunning abrogation of standards, let alone common sense.
How many children and older students' lives will be compromised by the failures of a dysfunctional, politicized education system? How many of our progeny will be unable to pursue the work they aspire to for lack of qualification, whether practical or professional? How many gifted teachers will no longer be in the classrooms of America? What will become of those who require specialized education in order to be happy and productive? How will dumbed down education affect our economy, and our standing in the world?
Perhaps the most vital question is how can we fix this so that students want to get up in the morning for school, and where will they experience their Aha! moments?
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