So you know how this blog is based on a true story, right? Well, yesterday’s writing was about a teacher in a school meeting with her principal. While I haven’t had a conversation like that with my principal (she is way too woke for that), I’ve definitely had that feeling that what I think doesn’t matter. Or that politics matter more than things I feel are important for students.
Tonight as I type this, I just received some instructions for how we will reopen schools during the rise of a pandemic. I know I’m not the only teacher that is feeling a lot of feelings about this. We don’t feel like we are being heard as teachers, we feel like it is possible that politics and what parents think is more important than what teachers think.
I will say this about the news I received: I am so relieved that masks will be required. This will lower the risks so much, although not completely.
Here are some fun facts about teaching:
- A recent Gallup poll showed that over half of teachers are actively looking for other jobs or keeping their eyes open for other opportunities. This is a normal stat–not pandemic related.
- New teachers (first five years of teaching) tend to leave the profession at a rate of 19-30%; another quick Google search said 44%
- 58% of teachers rate their mental health as, “not good”
- Teachers suffer nearly twice the stress of the general workforce (based on self evaluations)
- Less people are interested in teaching based on a 2017 poll from the previous few years of student enrollment in teaching programs. Down 37%!
Why are teachers leaving?
- Large class sizes
- overwhelming and unrealistic expectations (you don’t just show up at school and teach for 7-8 hours. there is so. much. more.)
- lack of support
- poor mental health
- lack of respect (this is HUGE for me. hearing what some parents are saying about teachers as we move to reopen is unsettling.)
- A report from Penn State cited that teachers rank lowest in feeling like their opinion matters at work
- discipline issues
- “helicopter parenting” where many teachers feel like the parents are micromanaging them; with 20-30 kids in a room, that’s a lot of bosses!
- high stakes standardized testing where one day can determine how administration and parents feel about you for a whole semester
Most stats are from We Are Teachers Article “Why Teachers Quit.” or sources linked in that article. You can find similar things by just Googling “first five year teacher stats.” Here’s a good one on why you should care that teachers are leaving so frequently.
Go ahead and throw “teaching during a pandemic and trying to keep 7 year olds from touching everything and keeping masks on to keep the community safe and dealing with parents who think your job isn’t that hard or that you’re lazy.”
I mean could you imagine a lazy teacher? Really.
Beth from Story #1 is a Teacher.
I’m not sure why I turned this post into a retelling of one article or citing stats in a list…but I just want to put out there that my feelings are definitely going to influence my writing. I think that’s normal. But I’m recognizing it and calling attention to it.
Because this shit is based on a true story.
I almost ended the post there, but I want to balance all of this out with saying some positives.
Why I (and Beth) Teach:
As teachers, we all have our “why” and it’s important to remind ourselves. I want to make a positive impact and let each student know that they matter. This core want drives me to do what I do in the classroom (or virtually) each day.
The job is stressful and hard, but I also have amazing teachers in my building and my circle that are SO supportive. That’s the thing about teachers who stick it out–they care so much and have such big hearts for kids. We sure aren’t in this for the money!
What really pushes me to keep going even when it’s tough is the kids. Even when they are driving me crazy, I still love them to pieces. And when a kid who has been giving me the hardest time all year gives me the biggest smile when I deliver something to his house…it just makes it all worth it for me.
While the state of public education could use some huge improvements, I think I’m in this for awhile. Hopefully. Let’s see how this next year goes!
This post is feeling a little incoherent, but let’s say this post is background for the character Beth. 🙂
