I asked students whether they’d want to be teachers? They quickly responded, ‘Why would I?’

I asked students whether they’d want to be teachers? They quickly responded, ‘Why would I?’

Teachers are often expected to juggle many competing responsibilities, fueling a sense of burnout. www.andrerucker.com/Getty Images I spoke in January 2026 with 150 high school students about career options. After explaining my own career as a professor of education, health and behavior, I asked the students a simple question: Would you want to be a teacher? “Why in the world would I want to be a teacher?” one female student said. “My aunt is a …