Why Are Teachers Quitting Their Jobs?

With the upsurge of teachers resigning after working in the industry for decades, perhaps we should question what circumstances have changed recently to turn teachers away from their profession. According to a recent survey, over a third of teachers report wanting to quit within the next two years, and there are now significantly less people going into education compared to those leaving.

Unsurprisingly, like many dilemmas we're seeing lately, this has been partially influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2020 quarantine period was a particularly tough time for children, with declining mental health across the board. An increase in screen time is perhaps an obvious source of difficulty, but the lack of social interaction with authority figures other than their parents/guardians and more lenient rules may have also contributed to the behavioral issues teachers are seeing. Interestingly, parents' stress has also impacted their children's social and emotional development, with their lack of responsiveness leaving kids feeling neglected and even becoming more aggressive (this parallels the classic study that shows rats' licking their babies will decrease their stress, which you can read about here).

The consequences of the pandemic have left classrooms seeing more fights, with 14% of teachers reporting that they experienced physical violence from a student. Many teachers felt that their school did not have a sufficient system in place to protect kids and teachers from the violence occurring, likely because these problems have gotten much more prominent as of late. Even excluding physical aggression, there has also been a general increase in disrespect against teachers. The above article also cites administrators' lack of urgency or proper repercussions for students as a source of teachers' frustration and later, decision to resign.

Administrators' "soft-handed approach" to children misbehaving is similar to the "gentle parenting" philosophy widespread among (particularly millennial) parents. I distinctly remember listening to an audiobook my mom was so set on reading in the car: How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk, and I was really interested by the points they brought up. This gentle approach to interacting with your child promotes empathy and respect, which are, of course, important values in any relationship. Unfortunately, parents often misconstrue this idea to mean setting practically no boundaries or not showing their child how to respect authority (ie. practicing permissive parenting rather than gentle parenting). According to Elizabeth Matthew, parents make the mistake of teaching their children "you are the center of my world," but fail to explain that "you are not the center of the world."

This new version of parenting is, thus, another factor making it difficult for teachers and students to work together. Without strict enforcement of what is right versus wrong, children have ended up throwing more tantrums—and they are used to adults giving in. With their job consisting more of disciplining students as opposed to actually teaching, teachers likely feel that they are no longer doing what they're passionate about (nor being compensated enough to handle the extra burden), and leave their job.

The New York Times quotes a teacher who brings up an interesting point. Recall the beginning of the pandemic, when communities were coming together in support of healthcare workers, frontline workers, and educators? Many teachers note that this effort has since died down. Even despite the behavioral issues from students, countless teachers voice their desire for more appreciation—from students, community members, and school administrators alike. For example, teachers have received little to no pay increase, despite the increased cost of living. This has pushed union efforts such as the contract negotiations in Lexington last year, which advocated for necessary adjustments post-pandemic. Efforts like these demonstrate that ultimately, the biggest lack causing teachers to quit is the lack of respect. California teacher Suzanna Jackson sums up the struggle for many educators: "I feel torn. I’m mad the district told us to be here, but my kids need me."

by KATIE LIN