US teachers leaving jobs amid mental health issues, rising school violence, burnout: Surveys

By Firdevs Bulut Kartal and Mücahit Oktay

TORONTO (AA) - A shortage of teachers in US schools is not caused by instructors retiring or being fired but they are voluntarily leaving the profession, according to surveys.

Nearly half of the public education employees who left their jobs in primary education institutions in March left voluntarily, according to a survey by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Trends demonstrate that the number of primary, secondary and high school teachers are diminishing rapidly due to resignations.

In addition, salaries have not surpassed increased inflation in the last 20 years and have remained below compared to alternative occupational groups that require similar education and expertise.

According to the EdWeek/Merrimack Teacher College survey, nearly 45% of teachers said they were not respected or viewed as professionals by society.

Almost 35% stated that they will leave the profession in the next two years to look for other careers.

More than half said the mental health and wellness of teachers in their schools declined during the 2022-23 school year, the survey added.

But only 2% said their district offers detailed support programs for employees’ mental health.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics said there are more than twice as many vacancies for newly hired teachers in March.

- COVID-19 pandemic impact

Meanwhile, a new survey by National Education Association (NEA) members reveals a shocking level of stress and burnout among teachers and a large increase in the percentage who say the coronavirus pandemic has made them more likely to retire or leave the profession earlier than planned.

The survey showed that more than half of the teachers in the US are considering early retirement due to the pandemic and its aftermath.

The rate is higher among Hispanic, Latino and Black teachers, it said.

More than 60% of teachers said they were worried about mass shootings at their schools, according to another survey conducted by NEA in 2018.

The average teacher salary for the 2020-2021 school year grossed a little more than $65,000 yearly, while that figure dropped to $50,000 in states like Florida, South Dakota, and Mississippi, compared to New York, California and Massachusetts where the yearly salary was over $85,000, said the survey.