It’s such a tragedy to read that nearly two-thirds of teachers want to quit. I love the profession, and recommend it to anyone that has an interest in teaching, but it is clear that no matter how wonderful this vocation is, the support and welfare of teachers is, more often than not, missing from the equation.
Unlike what some may think, teachers aren’t leaving because of the money (even though we clearly don’t make very much). A recent survey spell it out:
Centre for Marketing Schools director Dr Linda Vining said the survey confirmed the “deeper issues” of concern to teachers.
They included a lack of communication between staff and principals, and feeling undervalued and not being consulted.
“Teachers are feeling steamrollered . . . they are feeling that things are happening too quickly,” Dr Vining said.
“Through my research comes a sense they feel they are not valued members of the team – they are simply there to work and for many of them that’s not fulfilling.”
The findings are a sad indication of why so many teachers are unhappy:
- SIXTY per cent of teachers said the school’s direction was not clearly communicated.
- FIFTY-ONE per cent did not feel part of a close-knit school community.
- FIFTY-FOUR per cent said communication between staff and management was poor.
- TWENTY-SEVEN per cent said the school principal was not approachable.
The tragedy of this situation is that teachers are leaving for reasons which should be easily rectifiable. They are not leaving because they don’t enjoy teaching, aren’t happy in a classroom or find that they are not up to the day-to-day demands of the profession. They are leaving because they are feeling unappreciated, ignored, not properly consulted and have difficulties with colleagues.
These issues should be able to be addressed and corrected, so that teachers can enjoy the same kinds of working conditions as I do. The fact that they aren’t is a strong condemnation on the way schools and administrators operate. They are often inflexible, unaccommodating and cold.
And this is supposed to be the warm, friendly and caring environment for our children?
Tags: Administrators, California, Career, Centre for Marketing Schools, Community, Dr Linda Vining, Education, Jobs, life, Management, Survey, Teacher, Teachers, Teaching
Topical Teaching 
April 6, 2011 at 11:08 pm |
Communication is a huge problem that I have encountered. Thanks for sharing this post. I shared it out to my PLN and they are agreeing as well.
April 7, 2011 at 12:41 am |
Thank you so much Anthony! I appreciate your support for my blog and am grateful for all the times you have shared my posts with others.
April 7, 2011 at 12:08 am |
My principal is kind and approachable; I appreciate his efforts to bridge the communication gap. I still fall into the three remaining precentages you’ve cited. Thanks for sharing.
April 7, 2011 at 12:42 am |
Thanks lbcarizona! It’s great to hear that you have a good principal.
April 7, 2011 at 9:58 am |
The reason I may soon quit: I’ve been assaulted by students – slapped, hit, rammed with a cello, scratched with a thrown chair – and no one cares. When I asked for police intervention for the most difficult kid, principal blamed ME for his behavior.
If someone cared enough to help me work with these few children so I could feel safe in my classroom, maybe I could stay.
September 30, 2011 at 10:45 pm |
apple ipad future…
Keep working ,great job!…