Teachers’ pessimism about their jobs is growing as a large share say they’re forced to modify classroom discussions due to political pressure.
That’s the case for at least 40% of public school teachers in 2025, new polling data from EdChoice and Morning Consult confirms. Among them, 5% report having to modify their curriculum “a great deal.”
Most of the pressure is coming from administrators (41%), followed by the federal government (33%) and state officials (31%), the data suggests.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, these pressures—and other job stressors—have caused growing frustration with the teaching profession. Only 26% of teachers believe K12 education is headed in the right direction, a 5% decrease since spring.
However, teachers report positive feelings about education at the local level, with 50% saying things are going well in their districts.
Making the case against cell phones
Teachers increasingly support cell phone restrictions meant to address student mental health, cyberbullying and classroom disruptions.
Although 54% of public school teachers believe students should have access to phones in school, only 19% say the devices should be allowed in the classroom. Overwhelmingly, 70% of them oppose using cell phones as a learning tool.
Teachers still concerned about AI
AI’s role in the classroom is another divisive topic. Forty-six percent of teachers support its use in class, while 48% oppose it. As EdChoice Research Assistant Alli Aldis puts it, AI has become a “specter hanging over the classroom.”
Generally, teachers are concerned about how AI will impact society in the future (46%). In fact, the research suggests that teachers fear AI more than the general public does.
“That might be worrying, since teachers have a front-row view of how artificial intelligence is impacting the next generation,” Aldis wrote.
Instead, teachers would rather use traditional edtech options, including:
- Online learning platforms – 90%
- Laptops – 88%
- Online learning games – 82%
- Tablets – 77%
- AI – 46%
- Cell phones – 29%
More from DA: 5 concerns students now have about AI
