America's Education System In Crisis: Who Will Teach Our Kids?

Data from the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) reveals a decline in the number of degrees conferred in education, once the most popular major in the country. Despite a nearly 150% increase in college students, education degrees have dropped by almost 50% from the 1970s to the present. In contrast, degrees in social sciences/history and business have remained popular.

According to Corey DeAngelis, a senior fellow at School Choice Now, the decline in education degrees is not surprising. He argues that increased spending on education has not translated into higher salaries for teachers. While education spending per student has increased by 152% since 1970, teacher salaries have only risen by 8% in real terms. DeAngelis believes that school choice would benefit both students and teachers by introducing competition and incentivizing schools to spend money wisely on effective teachers. He cites studies showing that school choice competition leads to higher teacher salaries in public schools.

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Experts speculate on the reasons behind the decline in education degrees. Nicole Smith, a research professor at Georgetown University, suggests that the profession was once dominated by women who were encouraged to pursue careers in education. However, as more opportunities have opened up for women in STEM and business fields, fewer highly educated women are entering the teaching profession. Chris Torres, an associate professor at the University of Michigan, agrees that increased opportunities for women have impacted the profession.

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Low pay compared to other college graduates, increased violence against teachers, and the destabilization caused by the COVID-19 pandemic are also contributing factors to the teacher shortage. Several states have responded to the shortage by offering raises to teachers. However, former private school principal Mandy Davis expresses concern about the burden placed on teachers who remain in the classroom, including larger class sizes and disciplinary issues.

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Retaining teachers is also a challenge. Recent data reported by The Wall Street Journal shows that 300,000 teachers left the profession between February 2020 and May 2022, with many expressing a desire to leave.

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This raises concerns about who will fill these roles and the impact on children's education. New York elementary school teacher Brook Ooten highlights the stress faced by teachers in overcrowded classrooms due to the shortage.

A press release from last year reveals that 44% of schools nationwide reported full or part-time teacher vacancies, with special education being the most affected. General elementary school teachers and substitute teachers also face shortages.