Will Losing Our Teachers Cause a Loss of the Future? By: Katie Ho

What happens when there are not enough teachers to teach the future generation? That question has been spiraling across the nation as the employment rates for educators drop. Whether there will be enough teachers to help shape the future of the nation, it is certain that the United States is facing a challenge; Teacher shortages. 

As of 2025, the United States have witnessed an incredible decline in teacher employment. This spikes the question; will we have enough teachers to educate our future generations? The make-up cause for teacher shortages ranges from person to person. Many believe that salary is a factor, while others believe it is societal stereotypes. Avery Kelley, a student at Hillgrove High School, said, “I grew up in a house of educators, like both of my parents are teachers on a collegiate level, and so I noticed lots of the time that teachers don't necessarily get all of the get the payment that they deserve for the amount of work that they do inside of school and outside of school.” Expressing from her experience, teachers do not get enough pay that is necessary for their work. Another student at Hillgrove, Kyndall Ward, stated “My aunt was a teacher, and my other aunt was a teacher, too, and they don't get paid much. Like, I know what it's like, so I know they deserve to be paid more for that.” Both students expressed their opinion on pay based on their personal experiences.

Not only do many believe salary makes up a factor, but many also suggest stereotypes surrounding teachers make up a huge part of the widespread teacher shortage. Today, stereotypes suggest that teachers do not do much for work, and that teachers are getting paid to do nothing, not realizing education is much more. Avery Kelley Stated, “Some people don't treat teachers with utmost respect, and I feel like teachers do deserve utmost respect. They literally are teaching you, like you're with a teacher almost as much as you're with your parent at home.” Stating how teachers are with their students as much as their parents are. Kyndall Ward also stated, “I feel like they need to come see how much teachers do, not only inside but outside the classroom, so then they know t's not just standing in front of a class and teaching them, A, B, C, 123, it's like, Oh no, I'm building relationships and I'm coaching and I'm doing all that.” Discussing how teachers are also building relationships on top of teaching. 

The teacher’s shortage is not just an education headline; it also expresses the concern surrounding communities. As generations of future students continue to grow, the search for qualified teachers becomes narrow, affecting entire communities. As the teacher's employment rate continues to decline, the question of whether there will be enough teachers available to guide students in the future remains.