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    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    The great teacher shortage — it’s a national problem

    LAUSD and other school districts nationwide are struggling to fill positions, including teachers and substitutes, crossing guards, and lunchroom attendants.

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    By Madeleine Brand • Oct 18, 2021 • 48m Listen

    LAUSD and other school districts nationwide are struggling to fill positions, including teachers and substitutes, crossing guards, and lunchroom attendants. “Our entire profession is in a crisis mode because people just don't respect it and appreciate it the way that it used to be,” says San Pedro High School principal Steve Gebhart. “The continued systemic pressures that are put on the classroom teacher and just all levels of educators on the school site is just something [educators] are not able to manage anymore.”

    Also, jury selection is underway in the trial of three white Georgia men accused of killing Ahmaud Arbery, a Black 25-year-old who was out jogging. Ambitious climate change legislation is part of the $3.5 trillion budget package that Congressional democrats are debating, and the party’s self-imposed deadline to pass it is the end of this month.

    In this episode

    5 stories
    1. 0:00

      3 white men are accused of murdering a black jogger, Ahmaud Arbery. How to find an impartial jury?

      Jury selection began on Monday in the trial of three white men charged with the killing of 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery in February 2020. Arbery, who is Black, was out jogging when he was chased, confronted, and then shot to death.

      Read the story
      10 min
    2. 10:02

      Could West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin doom President Biden’s effort to curb climate change?

      Ambitious climate change legislation is hanging by a thread. It’s part of the $3.5 trillion budget package Congressional democrats are debating. The party’s self-imposed deadline to pass it is the end of this month.

      Read the story
      9 min
    3. 19:19

      Teachers are undervalued and can no longer endure systemic pressures, says high school principal

      “Our entire profession is in a crisis mode because people just don't respect it and appreciate it the way that it used to be. The continued systemic pressures that are put on the classroom teacher and just all levels of educators on the school site is just something [educators] are not able to manage anymore," says San Pedro High School Principal Steve Gebhart.

      Read the story
      8 min
    4. 27:49

      Nation faces teacher shortage — even substitutes are tough to find

      “I think there are always higher [teaching] needs because there's even a smaller pool when it comes to higher grade levels, such as math and science, foreign language, and special ed,” says Mike Teng, CEO of Swing Education.

      Read the story
      9 min
    5. 36:50

      Mayim Bialik wants to be permanent ‘Jeopardy!’ host, but she may not be politically impartial enough

      “Jeopardy!,” the long-running TV quiz show that rarely generates buzz, has been in the spotlight a lot more than usual lately. Beloved longtime host Alex Trebek’s death last year set off a search for his successor.

      Read the story
      11 min
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Madeleine Brand

      Host, 'Press Play'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Sarah Sweeney

      Vice President of Talk Programming, KCRW

    • KCRW placeholder

      Angie Perrin

      Producer, Press Play

    • KCRW placeholder

      Michell Eloy

      Former Producer/Line Editor, Press Play

      NewsEducationNational

    In this episode

    5 stories
    1. 0:0010 min

      3 white men are accused of murdering a black jogger, Ahmaud Arbery. How to find an impartial jury?

    2. 10:029 min

      Could West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin doom President Biden’s effort to curb climate change?

    3. 19:198 min

      Teachers are undervalued and can no longer endure systemic pressures, says high school principal

    4. 27:499 min

      Nation faces teacher shortage — even substitutes are tough to find

    5. 36:5011 min

      Mayim Bialik wants to be permanent ‘Jeopardy!’ host, but she may not be politically impartial enough

    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand