It's never been harder to be a teacher in America — and it's never been worse to be a student.
By Agnes Walton Senior Video Reporter |
Over the last school year, it has become increasingly clear that America's teachers aren't doing well. On TikTok, they are posting videos of themselves packing cardboard boxes full of colorful wall art, announcing their last day at a job they used to love. Others yell into the void, begging for help to make it through another week. Videos with the hashtag #teacherquittok have racked up more than 115 million views to date. |
Education workers, including teachers, support staff, counselors, bus drivers and custodians, are quitting — and they can't be replaced fast enough. There is also a desperate shortage of substitute teachers in many places. And kids, too, have noticed that something isn't right: Their teachers and schools are at a breaking point. |
But why is this happening now? For a new Opinion Video, we spoke to over 50 educators in 18 states at the start of the school year to ask about the challenges they face, their hopes for the new year and what is going on behind the scenes in America's schools. |
We heard about inflamed local culture wars, teachers who've been yelled at in public and harassed online over books or Pride flags and legislators who vilify educators. |
We heard about 60- and 70-hour workweeks, extraordinarily low wages and the immense and unrealistic pressure to "catch kids up" and comply with rigid testing schedules after a traumatizing pandemic. |
We heard about chaos in classrooms and kids who've lost years of socialization and foundational skill-building, who start fights and struggle with basic tasks. |
All the teachers we spoke to said they'd seen unimaginable numbers of their colleagues quit and that those who have stayed behind are picking up the slack, taking on more hours, more grading and more students. |
The spiraling crisis that America's education system finds itself in must come to an end. Millions of public school students depend on it. But the current free-fall will not end until politicians start listening to educators, paying them a living wage and giving them a reason to stay in the classroom. |
Here's what we're focusing on today: |
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