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Veteran educator Tera Fowler, who has spent more than three decades in the classroom, says the cultural shift has been impossible to ignore. “I would like to see a shift in attitude toward teachers as an authority,” she said. Her words reflect a broader frustration shared by many who remember a time when educators were respected leaders in the classroom.
Doug Kosak, who taught for 24 years in Temecula and Mesa schools, placed the blame squarely on evolving discipline policies. “I can attribute this to the attitudes, the lack of discipline in the schools, inability to hold kids accountable,” he told Fox News. His experience mirrors what many educators now describe as a system that prioritizes feelings over accountability.
Supporters of restorative justice argue it fosters understanding and reduces conflict, but critics point to research suggesting otherwise. A 2026 analysis by the Manhattan Institute found that schools implementing these programs experienced increased disruptions and declining math performance. For teachers on the ground, those findings align with daily reality.
Surveys also reflect worsening conditions. According to Education Week, nearly three-quarters of California elementary school teachers report that student behavior is deteriorating—not improving. For many educators, the removal of disciplinary tools has left them powerless to maintain order.
Yet discipline is only one piece of the puzzle. Teachers also describe a growing infusion of politics into the classroom. Nick Pardue, an Army veteran now teaching economics, pointed to administrative practices that track student outcomes by race and ethnicity. “There’s a lot of politics that got infused into teaching that I think created a lot of problems,” he said.
Curriculum changes have further fueled frustration. Jennifer Stoeber, who is also nearing retirement after 30 years, highlighted what she sees as a shift away from traditional academic focus. “In our social studies books, we focus more on inclusive issues on other cultures and not so much on our history itself,” she said.
For many critics, these changes represent more than an evolution—they see them as a fundamental transformation of the education system’s purpose. Combined with staffing challenges, the impact has been significant. California has spent over a billion dollars since 2016 attempting to recruit teachers, even as experienced educators continue to leave.
Gevin Harrison, a former Air Force serviceman who transitioned into teaching, recalled a different era. “Teachers used to reinforce the values that you would learn at home,” he said. Today, he and others argue that disconnect between schools and families has widened dramatically.
Policy decisions at the state level have added to the controversy. In 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation eliminating certain basic skills testing requirements for teacher credentialing. Critics argue the move lowers standards at a time when educational outcomes are already under pressure.
At the same time, data shows a decline in new teaching credentials issued, dropping by 11% in a single year. The contradiction, critics say, is clear: the state is pouring resources into recruitment while maintaining policies that many believe are driving educators away.
Research from the RAND Corporation adds another layer to the issue. A 2025 survey found that teachers report significantly higher stress levels than other professions, with student misbehavior cited as the leading cause.
For those still in the classroom, the strain is becoming unsustainable. Steve Campos, a teacher with more than 30 years of experience, described the situation bluntly: “It’s just kind of spiraling quickly.”
That sense of rapid decline is echoed across the state. What was once a stable profession rooted in authority and structure is now, according to many veterans, a system struggling to maintain order and purpose.
Whether policymakers will respond to these concerns remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: as experienced teachers continue to exit, the consequences for students—and the future of education in California—could be profound.
