Where are our teachers, and why do we care?

Teachers have the ability to change a student’s mindset. They can educate a student to love a subject that they thought they would dislike, or make class more fun and engaging, while positively changing their students’ perspectives on the class subject. Good teachers enjoy seeing their students happy, and like helping them to succeed. But recently it seems that less qualified educators are available, and finding a good teacher worth learning from is a needle in a haystack. “According to one national survey by Education Week, nearly three-fourths of principals and district officials said this summer that the number of teaching applicants was not enough to fill their open positions,” stated The New York Times.

Teacher salaries in California are widespread with an average annual amount of $69,200. Without enough government school funding, teachers don’t have enough money to supply their classes, and have to use their personal money instead. Although most do not feel upset about needing to spend their own money for the benefit of their students. They feel as though they are left behind, becoming unable to financially support themselves in the ever growing society. 

I almost failed English twice and math once, in both seventh grade and eighth grade. I struggled to keep up with the specific teacher requirements and felt little to no connection with the teachers and their methods. To make matters worse, eighth grade was online due to the pandemic, causing me to detach further from teachers. 

Even in eighth grade when we came back to in-person classes, I was still unable to climb out of the hole I dug myself into. Luckily, in ninth grade I had new teachers for English and math that I felt more comfortable with and connected to. The classes then were easier to succeed in and better suited for me.

“In my opinion, teachers affect the learning experience of a subject. Some teaching methods are more contemporary and do not help you retain the information. I have definitely noticed that some of my past teachers have had less effective teaching methods than others,” said sophomore Jonathan Scholten.

When asked about the struggles of being an educator, and how she thinks she is a good teacher, math teacher Tagreed Badwai gave an open, kind-hearted answer. 

“First, I should always keep improving myself. Second, what works maybe, be sincere with a student. Caring about their learning and try to make room to see that they can improve,” she said.

 Badwai then said her only wish, as similar to most other teachers, was for smaller classes and more funding. These would help teachers support those in need.Teachers have a large effect on their classroom and its academic prowess. Yet even in a first world country, they are left without the necessary supplies and time to instill their students with knowledge. With the current teacher shortage, largely due to the pandemic, effective instructors who could make an impact on students are in higher demand now than ever.