In preschool, teachers educate their students on language, motor, and social skills to prepare them for elementary school. In elementary school, teachers prepare students with basic knowledge to support them in middle school. In middle school, teachers teach them courses that support their high school careers and cultivate maturity in their lives. In high school, teachers prepare us for college whereas professors prepare us for a job.

For twelve years, on average, it is mandatory by law to get an education.

It may be taken for granted, but teachers are role models to students. And students are the future. Teachers give students guidance, support, and education. Because of teachers, we are able to teach younger generations and grow as a society.

Matthew Bates, a current professor at DePaul University, says the hardest part about being a teacher is student discipline. “Administrators are reluctant to exclude any student from the regular education curriculum, for fear of discrimination lawsuits, so teachers are forced to spend a disproportionate amount of time just trying to keep a handful of students under some basic level of control.”

Students nowadays have short attention spans and don’t pay attention to teachers’ lessons. And if they do, they have a “conveyor belt” mentality which Bates describes as “Work goes on the desk, the students do it, then the work goes off of the desk. The student then considers their task completed and takes a break until the next task comes down the belt. What those tasks are, they don’t care. They aren’t there to learn something. They’re there to complete the tasks so they can do something they do care about.”

So why is there a teacher shortage?

One reason could be the trend of disrespect in students that teachers have been complaining about across the US. I am going to college to receive a degree in elementary education and the only reason I am not interested in becoming a high school teacher is because I would be terrified to teach people my age.

Another factor contributing to the shortage is a lack of support and resources. Many teachers online report feeling overworked and underappreciated when they come home from work. The end-of-the-school thank-you notes and gift cards aren’t enough to make up for the year-round stress that comes with the job.

Another issue that gets overlooked is the fact that while you’re a student teacher, you do not have time to hold a job for an income because student teachers are in class settings all day and then have university classes at night. Because of this, it is harder for students in low-income neighborhoods to become teachers. You have to be able to support yourself without having a job while you are student teaching.

It is found on USA Today that shortages tend to be worse in low-income areas. “The shortages were concentrated at schools whose students were hit hardest by the academic disruptions of the pandemic…the children arguably most in need of qualified teachers are also most likely to attend schools who don’t have enough.”

Furthermore, the pandemic caused many teachers to retire and leave due to concerns about their health and safety. Also, the struggles of online teaching caused many teachers to burn out. Because of the pandemic, the shortage took a dive.

In California especially, many teachers can not afford to live and raise a family in the communities they work. Over the past few years, there has been a wage gap increase between teachers and college graduates in other fields of study.

Because of this issue, California Assembly member, Ali Muratsuchi, introduced a new bill. According to the Los Angeles Times, Muratsuchi, “introduced a bill that would raise salaries for teachers and other school staff by 50% by 2030, the latest legislative effort to tackle a worsening shortage of educators across the state.”

According to the All Education Schools Blog, in California, the steps to become a teacher consist of a bachelor’s degree (which takes at least four years to complete), a teacher preparation program, holding a student teaching position, and passing the California teacher certification test. That’s a lot to go through to only receive, on average, $85,000 a year. Despite the importance of shaping young minds, some college students might choose to get a four-year college education in a field that receives a better salary.

One solution would be increasing teacher pay and benefits, which Ali Muratsuchi is working on in the state of California. Another is providing more support for teachers when it comes to stress and mental health. When looking at prospective teachers, offering scholarships can be a positive incentive for people with the passion to teach, and the ability to be able to. Without addressing this cause, the shortage may get worse.