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By MINA PHILLIPS
MCHS Class of 2024
LEWISTOWN -- It can be argued that teaching is one of the most important professions in the world. Without teachers there would be no one to teach the younger generations what they need to know, and society would struggle to prosper. Knowing this information makes the nation's severe teacher shortage more than a little concerning.
In some cases, teachers leave for another district or decide to retire during the school year, leaving students without consistency until a new teacher can fill the position. MCHS Junior Mara Gallo said, "I have had teachers leave for a different job in the middle of the year. I had to learn an entire new style of teaching which was very difficult." Such transitions make it harder for students to learn necessary content which can have a ripple effect on their academic growth.
But this isn't just a Mifflin County issue. The teacher shortage is statewide and nationwide. The amount of people entering the education profession has significantly dropped. Information from EdW.org notes, "The number of new entrants into teaching has decreased by one-third over the past decade, with the number of newly-licensed teachers dropping from 320,000 in 2006 to 215,000 in 2020."
This decline has been apparent in Pennsylvania for quite some time. MCSD School Board member Mary Lou Sigler, explained, "When I began teaching and supervising student teachers at Susquehanna University in 2013, the university had already been seeing a sharp decline in the number of students entering the field of education. Unfortunately, this decline has only worsened since that time."
In an article from the University of Denver, Senior Managing Editor Tamara Chapman stated, "The problem basically boils down to two factors: recruitment and retention."
Those two factors are impacted by a multitude of conditions. "Teachers face plenty of job stress, some of it associated with poor working conditions, feelings of isolation, the pressures of high stakes testing and inadequate support to meet the complicated needs of students. On top of that, mental and behavioral health challenges, as well as the effects of trauma and poverty, are present in classrooms across the country," Chapman explained.
All of these issues have been accelerated in recent years as public perception of teachers has become more critical. In Pennsylvania alone, almost 10,000 teachers left their jobs since the beginning of the 2021-22 school year.
Public Broadcaster, WITF recently reported on this crisis, noting, "Teachers told the Penn State researchers reasons they were leaving included pay and working conditions. More specifically, they cited student behavior issues, teacher involvement in decision making, and school leadership."
Salary is among the most pressing concerns. In Pennsylvania, one cannot become a teacher without a bachelor's degree, which means an educator must take on the full four-year college debt, but their starting salary and salary growth may not keep up with student loan payments. Beyond-tuition fees, annual clearances, licensing exams, and classroom supplies also impact a teacher's bottom line.
PSEA, the state's teacher's union, is currently advocating for a $60,000 starting salary for teachers state-wide to better align with other college-degree level jobs. In Mifflin County, that would be a nearly $17,000 annual increase for a first-year teacher. In fact, $60,000 is more than many mid-career teachers make in the district, even after earning their masters degrees.
The financial boost would be beneficial, but it isn't the be-all, end-all factor in their employment. Teaching has long been "underpaid" in comparison to other professions of similar educational background.
"Teachers who are respected, teachers who feel trusted to be the professionals they are, and teachers who are supported usually remain in education in spite of the fact that most could go elsewhere and gain a salary increase," said Sigler.
Despite the looming concerns, there are still some who are eager to join the profession.
Mifflin County alumna and freshman at Lock Haven university, Cassie Himes stated, "I think that people choose not to major in education because teachers are held to higher standards than other careers. I chose to major in education because my goal is to be able to teach others using different techniques that work for every individual student."
So, where does this leave Mifflin County? While state-led initiatives like increasing pay and offering incentives for people to become teachers can help, local efforts are also critical to ensuring our classrooms are filled with highly-qualified, dedicated teachers.
Sigler noted, "Both Superintendent Vance Varner and Chief Academic Officer Steven DeArment work tirelessly to seek candidates with the highest credentials to apply for positions. Postings of new and vacant positions are made rapidly and oftentimes across a large geographic area. Improvements to the district website have been made, and Mr. Varner's media posts, as well as other district personnel media posts, promote a sense of pride that projects a welcoming atmosphere."