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Tuesday, June 13th, 2023

Record Numbers of Teachers Quitting Due to Politics, Work Environment, and COVID

Author:     Elizabeth Urban
Source:     The Messenger News
Publication Date:     8 June 2023 | 06:44 PM EDT
 Link: Record Numbers of Teachers Quitting Due to Politics, Work Environment, and COVID
Stephan:  

In both the U.K. and the U.S., as this report lays out, Right wing politics and the pandemic have devastated public education as teachers flee the profession. In the Red states, and particularly in rural far right districts where MAGAt fanatics seek to gut the libraries and complain about teachers it is getting harder each year for a child to get a decent education. Schools have been politicized more than they ever have in our history. Then add to that the obscene costs of a college education. The result? American is going to become in this generation even more poorly educated than is already the case. Now add to that the weaponization of disinformation, and you see how easily it is becoming to manipulate people with their fears, and resentments.

Credit: Nikada / Getty Images

A significant number of teachers are leaving the education field due to the trifecta of politics, challenging work environments, and the lingering effects of COVID-19. Both England and the U.S. have witnessed a surge in educators leaving the classroom.

The latest workforce survey from England’s Department of Education (DfE) revealed that 40,000 teachers resigned from state schools in 2022, alongside an additional 4,000 who retired. Meanwhile, in the United States, the departures surpassed typical rates with Washington experiencing its highest teacher resignation in 30 years. Maryland and Louisiana noted more exits than in the previous decade, while North Carolina reported a significant increase in mid-school-year departures, as per USA Today.

Educators and teachers’ unions in both the U.S. and England attribute this trend to politics. The contentious discourse around school policies, including curriculum content and COVID-19 restrictions, has reportedly added significant stress. Teachers advocating for enhanced school safety measures, such as masking, experienced backlash from local communities.

Politics also influenced the decision of Kimberly Biondi, a former English teacher […]

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