An open secret for years is that teaching isn’t what it used to be. In fact, having been targets for so many years, most teachers have had it and would love to retire if they could afford it. But after years of cuts, that’s not possible for most.

With morale so low, its not surprising to see that word is getting out. A piece in the Capital News Service illustrates this new truth, and a secondary impact. Shrinking number of teachers signals end of a dream career shows that it’s not just today’s teachers that want out, but tomorrow’s.

 

MEA President Steve Cook is quoted identifying public education’s new role:

Not one of them got involved because they thought they were going to be rich,” Cook said. “They want to teach. And they get there and find out, I’m not doing that much teaching, I’m a professional test proctor.”

How this all came about is one familiar to many of us:

In the wake of the Great Recession, many states passed laws reducing teachers’ job security, cutting their salaries and benefits, increasing class sizes and limiting their collective bargaining rights.

As a result, applications to teacher colleges have dropped as much as 50 percent. Western Michigan University’s James Muchmore, predicts:

At some point, people will realize that the current round of teacher-bashing is counter-productive to the well-being of our society, and it will change.

But will they realize this in time…?