Nate Bowling (نيت بولينج)

I sat down this week to write about the K-12 teacher shortage in the US. Halfway through, I realized calling it a shortage absolves policymakers of their role in creating poor working conditions in classrooms and driving people out of the profession.

The way we treat practitioners is fundamentally at odds with the values we collectively espouse and a ton of folks are seeing that and looking for the exits.

https://natebowling.substack.com/p/the-canaries-are-dead-and-no-one

The Canaries are Dead and No One Wants to Go into the Mine

Yet another colleague from back home reached out to let me know they're listing me as a reference this week. We're losing great teachers at a distressing rate.

Takes & Typos: A (Nominally) Weekly Newsletter
Feb 12, 2023 at 4:33pmWeb
Show threadKarl NelsonFeb 12, 2023
@natebowling anecdotally, the majority of applicants I’ve seen applying for jobs in my org are folks looking to leave schools mid-year. Lots of teachers, but even some principals and other admin types. I feel like in the “old days” (10? years ago), people wouldn’t consider leaving part way through the school year.
Show threadCat C-BFeb 12, 2023

@natebowling So much this!

I was lucky enough to be able to retire just before the pandemic, and while the salary was among the lowest in my state, it was really the working conditions that drove me out.

I was good at teaching. That was really my problem: the practices of my school kept cutting into my ability to do the job WELL. Like the year I had 7 different classes to prep for— or the time I was taken off working on my AP audit to do unpaid substitute work instead.
🧵

Show threadCat C-BFeb 12, 2023

@natebowling Above all, the lack of time for grading and prep. I taught high school, every level from freshmen to seniors, from students with a 3rd grade reading level through AP students.

Writing is not something that can be taught or graded on the fly, and doing it well, especially with students who are behind, is hard and time consuming.

I left because the workload always increased, and the time to do it never did. And I was getting too old for 50– 60 hour weeks.
/2

Show threadCat C-BFeb 12, 2023

@natebowling No money for books, no time for prep, promises not kept.

But the saddest part is that I am still mourning what could have been. I loved teaching, when I got to do it. I’m a 4th generation teacher.

It HURT to leave the classroom. It still does.
/3

Show threadDavid SenkFeb 12, 2023

@natebowling just like many other “shortages”

It’s less “labor shortage” more… “wage shortage”

There’s plenty of people willing to do the work, just not for the pay given for it.

Whats that? The invisible hand of the market?

Nope, that’s only for businesses… /s

You’re 100% right, calling it a “teacher” shortage totally absolves those responsible.

The way an issue is presented can totally change how it is perceived, absolutely. It’s all about the “optics”…

Show threadShelleeFeb 12, 2023

@natebowling I once enjoyed connections to a large network of civic educators working across the U.S. Now they work in customer support, community engagement, and / or a LONG list of “side hustles.”

I feel the loss but I’ll support these passionate people in whatever they do. I grieve for what our students and learning communities have lost.

It might be a “teacher shortage” but it’s also a passion drain.

Show threadcyborgneticzFeb 12, 2023
@natebowling It's telling where those shortages are as well
The places education is under attack the most and often are places vilified by liberals. Florida's a good example of this.
Show threadJoe ScharfFeb 12, 2023
@natebowling yep. Improve the working conditions and increase the pay, and soon you’ll find your essential worker “shortages” are reduced. It’s economics 101. Supply and demand.
Show threadGaladFeb 12, 2023
@natebowling High School Teacher positions should start at $75k.
Show threadFlorida TedFeb 13, 2023
Thank you for this post @natebowling Despite being only 3 years from "full" retirement, my wife quit teaching 3 years ago. Teachers were not being supported by school administrators, county admin, and especially not by state legislators, and the governor. It's as if they were all intent on breaking the public education system. 🙁
Show threadFlorida TedFeb 13, 2023
@natebowling Btw, you write the following in your blog post, "Because schools are run by each state, as each state sees fit, data reporting on the number of unfilled positions nationwide vary." My guess is that the data for "teacher shortages" in Florida is vastly under-reported. Our governor and those he controls are NOT reliable sources.
Show threadFlorida TedFeb 14, 2023
@natebowling Quote from eu.usatoday.com/story/news/edu…

On June 9, the Florida Legislature passed a bill that gave the approval for military members, both former and present, and their spouses to teach. Reserve military members count, as well.

Teacher candidates must have a minimum of 60 college credits with a 2.5 GPA, and also must receive a passing score on the FLDOE subject area examination for bachelor’s level subjects.

Veterans must have a minimum of 48 months of military service completed with honorable/medical discharge. If hired by a school district, they have to have a teaching mentor.
Veterans can now teach in Florida with no degree. School leaders say it 'lowers the bar'

A new Florida education program lets military veterans and their partners become teachers for five years without a bachelor's degree.

USA TODAY
Show threadNate Bowling (نيت بولينج)Feb 15, 2023
@florida_ted this really highlights how much capitalists don't actually believe in capitalism. If the market conditions are not attractive enough to bring people in, you should improve the conditions. Instead, they're choosing to lower the bar to entry. It's sad and will harm our most vulnerable students. But it's also entirely predictable and on-brand for the moment we live in and that state.