Educators fearful over being 'targeted' quit after years of teaching: report

08 June 2023

Teachers are quitting their jobs at a record high amid increasingly politically hostile environments, The Messenger reports.

The Messenger reports "therepercussions of teacher resignations continue to be felt, particularly in high-poverty areas struggling to replace departing educators," as a new workforce survey from England's Department of Education (DfE) confirms "more than 2,300 vacant positions," as "both England and the U.S. have witnessed a surge in educators leaving the classroom."

DfE's report also shows "the average turnover rate in eight states rose from 10% to 12% pre-pandemic to 13% to 14% post-pandemic, with some regions reaching as high as 16%," adding "40,000 teachers resigned from state schools in 2022, alongside an additional 4,000 who retired."

Fed up educators blame their departure on the "trifecta of politics, challenging work environments, and the lingering effects of COVID-19," according to The Messenger.

The Messenger notes:

Meanwhile, in the United States, the departures surpassed typical rates with Washington experiencing its highest teacher resignation in 30 years. Maryland and Louisiana noted more exits than in the previous decade, while North Carolina reported a significant increase in mid-school-year departures, as per USA Today.

Former English teacher Kimberly Biondi, quit after 21 years of teaching in Charlotte, North Carolina, over concerns "that political pressures might eventually constrain her teaching capabilities."

She told USA Today, "I taught AP language where we were supposed to teach very controversial work. I taught Malcolm X. I taught all sorts of philosophers and speakers. I could only imagine how I would be targeted for continuing to teach this."

The Messenger's full report is available at this link.

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