'A lot of teachers are just feeling beat down': Polarizing politics driving educators away
OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — The mass resignation from teaching in Oklahoma is hitting a fever pitch, as districts struggle to fill openings as kids are returning to the classroom.
We reported earlier this week why so many educators are choosing now to walk away. Now we turn to the role polarizing politics is playing.
Long-time educators like Hilary Cowen hit their breaking point and are walking away.
"A lot of teachers are just feeling beat down right now," Cowen said.
It's not just burnout from the pandemic. The mass resignations come amid rampant politicization, gag orders, book bans, threats and intimidation, and who teachers describe as elected officials who are not pro-education.
"There are groups out there who want to focus on culture war issues that aren't even relevant to what's happening in school, but they say it loud enough and often enough and they get a following," said Mid-Del Superintendent Rick Cobb.
Efforts to divert money from Oklahoma public schools and into private schools are well funded by special interest groups with dark money. Meanwhile, the state legislature, tasked with funding a free and fair education for Oklahoma children, turned its focus during the last session on arming teachers, banning trans kids from sports, and targeting school librarians.
"Why are we talking about these things that are just hot button topics to get votes?" said Purcell teacher Angie Wren. "Meanwhile the real issues are still there. They're just still there."
One real issue that is not going away? The number of incoming teachers is not nearly enough to keep up with the number leaving the profession. Short-term bandaids include scholarships for education majors and expanding who can be an adjunct teacher to now include those without a bachelor's degree and no experience managing a classroom.
"To just pull somebody in and throw them into the deep end like that., to me, it's just unfair," said Ryan Cole, a teacher in Duncan.
Cowen said, "It's bodies in classrooms right now, and it really doesn't matter your training, or your qualifications, or your experience."
Oklahoma Educators Association President Katherine Bishop is working to secure long-term solutions, including a sizeable investment from lawmakers. Oklahoma Policy Institute found Oklahoma ranks 48th in the nation for per-pupil spending
"We talk about our students' future, but that investment has to happen right now," said Bishop. "We spend so much time and money trying to figure out how to bring in big corporations into our state. We have a corporation. Our public schools are a corporation."
Educators tell FOX 25 they also want a return of community support and unity they felt during the 2018 teacher walkout.
"In that moment, we saw positive change," said Dr. Cobb. "We can get back to that. "
Teachers and staff did secure a raise following that walkout but at the expense of what they call political blowback and retribution in the years since.
"It's gotten to a point where we've been taken advantage of," said Cole. "And legislators have kind of gone, 'so?'"
Some colleges are shutting down their secondary education programs due to a lack of interest. and now surrounding states have raised their pay and are agressively recruiting Oklahoma teachers amid 40-year high inflation.
"The money is there to fund education," Dr. Cobb said. "To give teachers and every public sector employee a cost of living raise."
Without action, many warn our state's future workforce and economy are on the line.
"At some point, we are going to have to take some action, so let's just do it now," said Wren. "I mean, what are we waiting on? Are we waiting on it to get worse?"
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