Wendy here.

As I watched my quota of news this morning, I saw a report of the current and looming teacher shortage crisis. The reporter cited low pay and overwork (especially since the onset and aftermath of the pandemic) as contributors to the crisis. Let me suggest another reason for the declining number of young people who choose teaching as a career and the increasing number of teachers leaving the profession.

Teachers are tasked now with playing catch-up as students are suffering academically, socially, and emotionally. Yet I see and hear the words “indoctrination,” “ban, ban, ban,” “theory,” and “what to think not how to think” coming from those who have not stepped into a classroom for decades.

Personally, I spent decades in classrooms, a choice I made despite the low pay and hard work. Why? Because of respect for educators and education.

Bring back respect; and good, dedicated teachers will flock to the classroom.

Wendy signing out. Back to you, Shakespeare.