Why Become a Teacher?

Teaching used to be known as the noblest profession. Today, not so much. It’s often depicted in terms of overwork, low pay, and overall disrespect. Small wonder, then, that young people are turning away from a future in education.

According to a survey published by the Chronicle of Higher Education, in 2015, only 4 percent of college freshmen said they were likely to major in education, down from 11 percent in 2000. A research brief published in September by the Learning Policy Institute states that, based on data from the U.S. Department of Education, “teacher preparation program enrollments have fallen 35% nationwide in the last five years, a decrease of close to 240,000 teachers in total.” The Institute projects a potential shortfall of 112,000 teachers by 2018.