School districts need more people to consider becoming teachers. The U.S. Department of Education and other groups are trying to get the word out.
The department鈥攁long with , a website started by the department and Microsoft that streamlines information for teacher candidates, and One Million Teachers of Color, a campaign started by several education groups to promote educator diversity鈥攈as launched to elevate the teaching profession.
鈥淭eachers: Leaders Shaping Lives,鈥� which will air on TV and radio and be featured on social media, aims to 鈥済enerate a new respect for teachers and motivate people to consider the profession for themselves,鈥� according to a press release. The slogan was chosen to highlight the skills and leadership ability teachers use to prepare students for success.
Interest in the teaching profession among high school seniors and college freshman has fallen 50 percent since the 1990s and 38 percent since 2010, according to a study published last year. As a result, enrollment in teacher-preparation programs has declined, and schools across the country are experiencing teacher shortages.
The campaign got us thinking: What kind of slogan would teachers themselves come up with? We asked EdWeek鈥檚 social media followers to give us their best slogan for a teacher recruitment campaign and found they fell into several categories鈥攕ome inspirational, some reflecting ongoing challenges in the field. Here鈥檚 what respondents said.
The (darkly) funny
鈥淟ooking for a career that offers a competitive salary, generous benefits, and the respect and professionalism deserving of your credentials? Look elsewhere!
鈥淢iddling pay, stripped down benefits, and micromanaging abound as you cry into your large coffee and moldy granola bar!鈥�
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鈥淲e鈥檝e got jeans passes!鈥�
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鈥淢aybe YOU will be the one to update the public school system... 鈥�
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鈥�13 weeks holiday a year 馃槤"
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The inspiring
鈥淭eachers shape the future. A bright, healthy, and peaceful world will depend upon teachers more than any other professionals. What career could ever be more important?鈥�
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鈥淏e the teacher YOU needed 鉁�"
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鈥淭he good days are really, really good.鈥�
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鈥淓veryone remembers a teacher who touched their lives. What will you be remembered for?鈥�
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鈥淥ur future needs YOU! 鉂わ笍"
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鈥淭each one, Reach one鈥�
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The skeptical
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think that most of us would recommend going into teaching with how education is at this very moment.鈥�
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鈥淚 think the education system needs a lot more then a recruitment campaign if they want to hire and retain talent.鈥�
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