Two-Thirds Of All Texas Teachers Are Considering Quitting
The survey, which the Texas AFT conducted this past November, included responses from 3,800 Texas AFT members. The Texas teacher’s dissatisfaction was already a known quantity, but the eye-popping numbers brought this unhappiness more to light on a public scale. The survey underscores the dire situation as a number of school superintendents are leaving the industry in Texas as well as throughout the United States.
Texas teachers have been contemplating their future pretty much since the COVID pandemic began. According to the Texas American Federation of Teachers (AFT) union president, Zeph Capo, teachers’ discontent has been “festering” for quite some time. He claims that the unhappiness ramped up a few notches once the COVID pandemic took over and safety and health concerns were not addressed. The survey conducted by the Texas AFT confirms many teachers want to leave, though it does not confirm the reasons he claims they’re considering quitting.
The survey, which the Texas AFT conducted this past November, included responses from 3,800 Texas AFT members. The Texas teacher’s dissatisfaction was already a known quantity, but the eye-popping numbers brought this unhappiness more to light on a public scale. The survey underscores the dire situation as a number of school superintendents are leaving the industry in Texas as well as throughout the United States.
“The fact that two-thirds of educators are thinking about quitting is really frightening,” Capo said in a press release via KHOU 11 News. Continuing to speculate on their reasons he says, “In addition to long-neglected low wages and the stress of increasing workloads, the Omicron surge has created unbelievable chaos. Educators witness every day the devastating effects on our students when schools have staffing shortages. It’s only going to get worse unless teachers’ concerns are addressed.”
Capo then spoke about the retirement numbers the school districts are about to be hit with. “We’re not going to be able to keep up with the number of people who are eligible to retire right now,” Capo claimed. He has a point, no doubt, but a closer check of the numbers tells a different story as to what has Texas teachers riled up.
The survey numbers don’t lie. The reasons for the Texas teacher’s discontent, though, might be something other than what it appears. Yes, safety concerns are just that – a concern. But as we said, the survey numbers don’t lie.
According to the Texas teachers’ survey, their first bone of content comes from salary. Of the 3,800 offering their opinion, 43% said they wanted a pay raise or a pay incentive to keep them in public education. 35% of those polled say that changes to their workload would more than likely keep them around. And while it makes the headlines, a mere 8% claimed that workplace safety improvements would do the job.
Texas AFT conducted another survey in January 2022. Only 12% of the 2,500 respondents said they felt safe on campus with in-person teaching as the Omicron surge raged on. Texas high school English teacher, Luis Garza, is looking for better safety protocols. “Teachers, staff, and students are not required to wear masks on campus, which is driving numbers up. I’ve personally had a large number of students out this semester,” he told WFAA News. Garza says all those factors combined contribute to questions about his own personal safety as well as his students. He also said that the lack of safety protocols surrounding Texas teachers adds significantly to the stress he feels with the larger workloads he’s had to deal with.
Pay, workload, and safety. It’s all on the table when it comes to Texas teachers. They also point to the negative effects Texas teachers have been dealing with since schools have opened back up. They say teachers are having to pay out of pocket for their N95 masks. Bus drivers are now driving two or three routes a day. School nurses have been left alone with no help. They claim 95% of their time now is dedicated to the COVID testing of students and staff. “They’re asking to be provided with N95 masks and rapid tests, to be able to take leave when they’re sick. This is basic stuff,” says Capo.
The numbers don’t lie. The attitude surrounding the desperate situation is real. The actual cause for teacher discontent, however, may not be what union officials claim. It’s also unclear how serious these public school teachers really are about quitting, many aren’t really qualified to work anywhere else. Saying you want to quit as a way to get a raise is an entirely different thing from actually quitting. For now though, Texas teachers continue to teach.
