Nearly two-thirds of Arizona’s public school teachers have considered leaving their jobs, but most don’t. And for one very good reason.
Teacher Christmas gift ideas this holiday season
Getting a holiday gift for a teacher
I learned something shocking about Arizona’s public school teachers recently.
Several things, actually.
Arizona State University’s Morrison Institute for Public Policy surveyed more than 7,500 Arizona teachers, and the most astonishing revelation (among many) is that only 7% of our teachers — 7% — felt they were supported by the policies of our Legislature.
That completely blew me away. I was sure the percentage would be way, WAY lower.
And for good reason.
Arizona makes it hard for teachers to teach
The salaries for school teachers are not nearly good enough, which perhaps explains why so many of our teachers take external jobs. The health insurance isn’t great. The support system stinks.
Teachers take on all kinds of unpaid duties and often end up purchasing stuff for their classrooms or students out of their own pockets.
Meantime, the Legislature seems hellbent on destroying the public education system by cutting budgets while handing out taxpayer money for private school vouchers to people rich enough to pay for such expenses on their own with little accountability.
It’s our Republican-controlled Legislature’s way of making sure public schools are underfunded and understaffed, allowing lawmakers to condemn them for not adequately serving our children.
Many teachers have reason to leave. Most don’t
All of which at least partially explains an Arizona School Personnel Administrators Association survey showing that roughly 25% of teacher vacancies across the state remain unfilled, and a number of positions are filled by teachers who don’t meet the state’s certification requirements.
It also explains why the Morrison Institute study found that nearly two-thirds of Arizona teachers have considered leaving their jobs.
Kristi Eustice, the institute’s assistant research director, told KTAR, “In our focus groups and interviews, we heard explicit mentions of things like anxiety and depression. There’s just kind of an overwhelming feeling of ‘there’s too much to do and not enough time to do it.’”
And yet, in spite of all those good reasons to get out of Dodge, the vast majority of Arizona’s teachers do not leave.
Teachers are dedicated. They make a difference
They return to their classrooms, year after year.
They put up with the low pay and lack of support and idiotic legislative attacks.
And according to the survey, the reason they do so is fairly simple. Arizona’s public school teachers are suckers … for your kids.
A whopping 92% of Arizona’s teachers said they stay on the job because they feel like they are making a difference in the lives of their students.
Did you find it in your heart, hopefully, to gift your kid’s teacher a little something before Christmas break?
Because not only must educators deal with hostile lawmakers unwilling to fund education at a level they deserve, but they often don’t even receive that most-precious non-monetary compensation:
Respect.
Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com.
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