Study Finds Some Texas Teachers Are Considering New Careers
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Study Finds Some Texas Teachers Are Considering New Careers
More than 40 percent of the teachers surveyed for a new study say they’re considering career changes.
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(April 20, 2008)—A new survey by the Texas State Teacher’s Association finds that one in four teachers in the state moonlights to make ends meet and that 44 percent of the state’s teachers are considering a career change.

Asked why they are considering leaving the profession, 42 percent of teachers cited poor working conditions.

That's double the percentage of those who cited low salaries.

The survey conducted in February included 177 teachers who responded to 700 questionnaires mailed by researchers.

“This year’s report is especially disturbing because it shows an increasing need for teachers as an aging teacher corps moves closer toward retirement,” said Texas State Teachers Association President Donna New Haschke.

“At the same time, 50,000 Texas classrooms are staffed by inappropriately certified teachers,” she said.

“Lawmakers need to address issues that are causing our teacher shortage,” she said.

“Legislators also must avoid taking any actions, such as yet more inequitable and unproven merit pay schemes or elimination of current rights and benefits, that would make the situation worse.”

Click Here For More Information From TSTA



Latest Comments

Posted by: Lauren Location: Coolidge on Apr 21, 2008 at 09:15 AM

Well with the prices of everything going up except their paychecks who can blame them.
Posted by: Solutions Location: Texas on Apr 21, 2008 at 12:16 AM

1. Take the trouble making kids out of the classroom for counsiling, because these children do need help. 2. Add more funds to the budget for extra supplies so that the teachers do not have to take from their own pockets. 3. Stop over crowding the classroom with too many children - inhome daycares only allow 12 kids per adult. 4. Go back to the standard ways of teaching, say 15-20 years ago, pre TAKS!! Back when the teachers were allowed to teach, not cram TAKS down the kids throats. These teachers live day to day on the edge of their seats praying enough children pass this stupid test that grades the school and the teachers. Some kids have horrible testing anxiety and do poorly on this type of test, they feel the stress and fear the teachers feel, no wonder it is hard for all concerned. Take TAKS AWAY. I personaly know teachers who would rather give up yeaching than teach TAKS, ask a teacher, I am sure you will get the same response.
Posted by: Annette Location: Waco on Apr 20, 2008 at 09:52 PM

Mel's comments are one hundred percent correct!!! Well said and so very true. Also mainstreaming childen with special education or uncontrollable behaior issues costs precious teaching time and is not fair to that student or the rest of the class. It is an absolute shame that you cannot teach the necessary basics --reading, writing, and arithmetic--but must teach how to pass the TAKS, the TEKS and all the other tests required today. Plus many other occupations pay so much more for what you have to put up with. Sad. Sad. Sad.
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