Can an ex-teacher help me understand the large influx of teachers quitting in recent times?

I don't want to have to quit an already underappreciated job, but I feel like I'm being backed into a corner. I have 10 years of teaching experience in Utah, but I'm genuinely unsure if I'll make it to 11. <br><br>What is pushing me towards quitting? Parental culture. Now I know a lot of you veteran teachers will say that I need to grow a pair and it's only getting worse, but I'm having trouble. <br><br>I had a parent email me stating that she didn't want me using the term "Latinx" because it was "woke." I explained to her that it is the preferred term of many Latinx people, so I use it. She said that is a "slur" and her son would never identify as such. I apologized and said I would make sure not to use it in class. I don't think that is unreasonable of me.<br><br>I have been getting requests to record everything I say in class so parents can ensure I'm not "grooming" students. I have been teaching for a decade and I don't think this is worth my time. I have 400 students and teach in Utah where this is certainly not my area of expertise. Still, the requests persist.<br><br>A parent accused me of promoting Marxism and communism in class because I have them read a news article that included the definition of Marxism and communism. They said this was "overtly political" and that I was "trying to manipulate an agenda."<br><br>I could go on with examples, but I'm not sure if this is worth it. I feel like my time is being wasted more and more each day by having to defend myself and justify my curriculum/vocabulary/lessons. <br><br>Is this just how it is now? Is this the future? I don't know if I am willing to put myself through this. I like teaching, but this is getting to an unsustainable point for me.<br><br>The funny thing is my students know I'm not a "woke" teacher. I'm conservative. My curriculum is pretty neutral. I'm just trying to teach kids how to read, write, and think critically. I'm not trying to teach them anything, and I'm just not sure if teachers as a whole get the respect to teach like we used to.