Parents, you may not have noticed during your teacher conferences, school concerts, or encounters at the supermarket, but America’s teachers have about had it with the pressures of their jobs and the lack of respect they are getting from legislators, the media, corporate leaders, and even you. I manage several Facebook accounts on public education and thought you might be interested in some comments on just one thread over a span of a couple of hours. They are representative of what I am seeing every day from across the U.S. I should mention that the people who post on this site are the fighters. They are the ones not willing to let the mandated standardized tests dominate their teaching. They still see children as individuals, each with special needs, and they are trying to prepare them for the real world, not just for the next test. Read the following and tell me if this is how you want these dedicated professionals to feel.
“I feel as if everyday is a battle in my profession. I have come home with a headache (pounding) just about every day for the last three weeks. I like to fight, but some days I just want to hang it up, get a job, another job (where??), and be done with public education…I really do.”
“After 20 years, I quit public education in disgust. Finding another job has been challenging.”
“…sometimes I feel I am heading for a nervous breakdown. And I consider myself a strong person.”
“I feel so hopeless. I guess I’m not alone. I am so done with NYC DOE. It’s at the point where the only thing that gets me up in the morning is the paycheck.”
“I am in my 21st year of education and I must say that, for the first time in my life, I am very seriously considering leaving the field. Let’s put it this way, if another opportunity comes a knockin’ I will answer promptly!!”
“I am staying just to piss off Arne Duncan and Bill Gates.”
“… silently screams…”
”33 years and I love the kids, hate, hate the bureaucracy/politics and concern that I am part of inflicting unneeded stress on children. I used to feel like dancing to school, now I drag.”
“My heart goes out to you guys. I spent 41 years in the classroom and I was not getting the enjoyment the last few years for the same reasons you give. Don’t let it destroy your health and your soul. Learn how to play the game. Don’t fight it, you will lose.”
Well, the answer is up to the reader. Do you want these folks to take the advice of the retired teacher with the concluding remarks, just go with the flow, play the game, don’t fight? Or do you think they should hang in there, fighting to give your children a quality education that is more than just test prep for tests that don’t really reflect a balanced curriculum and have little relationship to living a life? If you want them to keep fighting, they need your support. Tell them so next time you see them.
On Jan. 22, this article had twice as many readers in NY City as it did in Kennewick (12 -6).
It had over 150 readers nationally.