Education & Skills Gap:
* Massive illiteracy and innumeracy: The transmission of basic knowledge and skills would be severely hampered. People would lack the foundational literacy and numeracy skills needed for most jobs and daily life.
* Lack of specialized knowledge: Advanced subjects like science, engineering, medicine, and the arts would not be taught systematically, leading to a drastic slowdown or complete halt in technological advancement and cultural development.
* Unequal access to information: While some individuals might learn through self-study or informal means, access to quality information and structured learning would be drastically uneven, perpetuating and widening existing societal inequalities.
* Economic stagnation: A workforce lacking the necessary skills would severely limit economic productivity and innovation, leading to a decline in living standards.
Social Impacts:
* Increased crime rates: Lack of education and structured learning often correlates with higher crime rates. Without teachers to provide guidance and instill values, antisocial behavior might increase significantly.
* Social unrest and instability: A less educated and skilled population might be more susceptible to manipulation and misinformation, potentially leading to social unrest and instability.
* Breakdown of social cohesion: Education plays a significant role in shaping social values and promoting understanding between different groups. Its absence could lead to increased polarization and conflict.
* Slower societal progress: Solving complex societal problems requires education and critical thinking. Without teachers, progress on issues like poverty, disease, and environmental degradation would be severely hampered.
Other Considerations:
* The role of parents would be significantly amplified: Parents would be responsible for their children's entire education, a monumental task requiring significant time, resources, and expertise that many may not possess.
* Alternative educational systems might emerge: In the absence of formal schooling, alternative methods of learning, such as apprenticeships, mentorship programs, and online learning platforms, might become more prevalent, but likely wouldn't be able to provide the same breadth and depth of knowledge.
* The role of technology would be crucial: Technology could play a larger role in education, but it still needs curation and guidance to be effective.
In short, a world without teachers would be a world drastically different and significantly less advanced, equitable, and stable than the one we know. The consequences would be widespread and profoundly negative, affecting every aspect of individual lives and society as a whole.