POS 500
Letter To the Editor
Grand Canyon University
, Within recent weeks, we have seen a higher than usual number in retirement among
teachers in Phoenix and the surrounding areas. In all nearly seventy-one teachers have either
retired or simply quit over safety concerns brought forth by the novel corona virus. Teacher
shortages are the last thing we need to worry about in Arizona. This state has been dealing with
teachers leaving the profession and shortages for some time now, and COVID-19 has
exacerbated it. The teachers who were hailed as heroes when the novel virus closed down
schools in March, are no longer hailed as heroes. Teachers have been called “babies” and
“children” among other less exciting things for speaking up against opening schools before a
strong plan is put into place for the safety of teachers, students, and staffs among schools.
Covid-19 is not the only reason why teachers are leaving in droves. Teachers work in
unacceptable situations in many areas. Schools are crumbling due to the lack of care, the
treatment from students and even lack of parent support. Teachers have next to no support from
their superiors. Teachers do not feel safe or cared for, which is something that no teachers should
feel (Einhorn, 2019).
The teaching shortage in Arizona has left a significant amount of open teaching positions.
Many teachers are teaching with non-professional credentials because those with professional
credentials are leaving. As it now stands, Arizona has one of the highest turnover rates among
the states for teachers (Sutcher, et al., 2016).
It’s time for Arizona to stand up and save its teachers! It’s vital that we keep our teachers
in the classroom and preparing our children for successful teachers. Our teachers are the reason
we have doctors, lawyers, educators, etc. As a concerned parent and a lover of teachers, it would
be nice to see Arizona do something about this epidemic.
Letter To the Editor
Grand Canyon University
, Within recent weeks, we have seen a higher than usual number in retirement among
teachers in Phoenix and the surrounding areas. In all nearly seventy-one teachers have either
retired or simply quit over safety concerns brought forth by the novel corona virus. Teacher
shortages are the last thing we need to worry about in Arizona. This state has been dealing with
teachers leaving the profession and shortages for some time now, and COVID-19 has
exacerbated it. The teachers who were hailed as heroes when the novel virus closed down
schools in March, are no longer hailed as heroes. Teachers have been called “babies” and
“children” among other less exciting things for speaking up against opening schools before a
strong plan is put into place for the safety of teachers, students, and staffs among schools.
Covid-19 is not the only reason why teachers are leaving in droves. Teachers work in
unacceptable situations in many areas. Schools are crumbling due to the lack of care, the
treatment from students and even lack of parent support. Teachers have next to no support from
their superiors. Teachers do not feel safe or cared for, which is something that no teachers should
feel (Einhorn, 2019).
The teaching shortage in Arizona has left a significant amount of open teaching positions.
Many teachers are teaching with non-professional credentials because those with professional
credentials are leaving. As it now stands, Arizona has one of the highest turnover rates among
the states for teachers (Sutcher, et al., 2016).
It’s time for Arizona to stand up and save its teachers! It’s vital that we keep our teachers
in the classroom and preparing our children for successful teachers. Our teachers are the reason
we have doctors, lawyers, educators, etc. As a concerned parent and a lover of teachers, it would
be nice to see Arizona do something about this epidemic.
