Why teachers teach

Why are there teacher shortages? Arguably, a few of the causes may be accurate to a minimal extent: low wages, poor mentoring programs, being bogged down in paperwork, etc.

As a past public school teacher, a personal account of this phenomenon would argue that money is not the issue, as my bills were paid and I was not going hungry, nor my kids or wife. The paperwork was not that cumbersome or deterrent to the fact that I loved education, students and being a large factor in a child’s potential for success. Students oftentimes have parents with blue- collar, low- wage jobs, but have teachers they look up to and possibly even aspire to be like when they grow up. Those students who when real young were dreamers, thinkers, believers, and the like begin to slowly see the truth to it all: Most of the white- collar jobs are just too difficult to attain. No matter what the teacher does, many students lose hope eventually and begin to realize their societal destiny and capabilities. As a teacher I don’t think there is enough money, support, or mentoring that could fix these issues.

To fix the teacher shortage, we must fix societal divides; we must re- install hope and dreams that are attainable and realistic and not so far- fetched. A student and his teachers should be able to truly know that they are able and on the path to success within realistic means. When I was younger, when asked what I wanted to be when grown- up, the answer was not a special education teacher, but maybe a doctor, lawyer, dentist and, heck, maybe even a police officer, fireman, or the president. Nowadays, students may say mathematician, engineer, video game creator, or professional athlete. Who would say they wanted to help others be much more successful than themselves? Teachers are the individuals that do that, and that is why most teach. Do they deserve better for doing so? SHANE HAMPTON

Fayetteville