Have the teachers gotten worse over the years?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s the Chromebooks. They’ve killed kids attention spans as well as hindered learning. Lots of studies coming out on this recently.

Tje problems started way before chromebooks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe teachers wouldn’t need to take so much time off if the job was what it was 20+ years ago. It’s not.

Exactly this. Exactly this.

I’ve been teaching for over 20 years. Every year is harder and every year is more stressful. I feel it in my back, my jaw, and my clenched muscles. This isn’t healthy.

And the downtrodden and defeated teachers in the faculty lounge? It wasn’t like this at the start of my career.

So leave. Complaining endlessly has never once improved anyone’s circumstances and this endless litany of (often astonishingly privileged) woe from teachers has made everyone immune.

This is a thread about teachers. You should expect that some of them are going to explain the working conditions to you. These aren’t expressions of resentment or anger; they are merely explanations of working conditions. Would I express this elsewhere? No. Does it belong here? Yes.

And if we all leave — because trust me when I say the majority of us feel this way — who would you replace us with? This shortage exists because of the very working conditions you don’t want to hear about. There aren’t people lining up for these jobs right now, so telling those of us who are passionate enough to endure these conditions to leave seems like a bad call.

Thank you for the opportunity for a laugh. Teachers aren’t just complaining here. It’s all over social media just like I said— not to mention the group chats, teacher boards, and conversations.

I would tell any professional who made claims that their job was unhealthy that they should leave it.

You have yet to answer my question: who will replace us as we continue to leave?

Those of us within the school buildings know we have two options:
1. Join the mass departure
2. Speak up about what’s going on in schools in a hope that conditions can improve. (You, I suppose, call that “complaining.”)

One of these options has the chance to fix the profession and therefore fix education for students. The other just continues the decline.

If you don’t want to hear teachers discussing their experiences, then I recommend getting off threads about teaching. You control your social media algorithm, so clearly you’re looking for this info if you’re getting so much of it. Interestingly, I don’t get that much.

Heres who will replace you, the highest jobless college graduating class which needs healthcare and student loan forgiveness:

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/06/college-graduates-job-market-unemployment.html

You may now leave and be glad an opportunity was available for someone who needed it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it has more to do with NCLB and the evolution away from teaching critical thinking. The demand for "accountability" in schools led to more test-based teaching, which led to an emphasis on rote memorization rather than actual learning.

It's not the teachers. It's the pedagogy.

Actually tje move away from “rote memorization” is part of the problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it has more to do with NCLB and the evolution away from teaching critical thinking. The demand for "accountability" in schools led to more test-based teaching, which led to an emphasis on rote memorization rather than actual learning.

It's not the teachers. It's the pedagogy.

Teaching “critical thinking” is B.S.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, they believe that memorization is bad. They no longer practice drill. They just say ‘read’ to the students but no longer have them read out loud in all subjects. They no longer assign chapter questions out of the books after requiring reading it. They do not teach writing properly. They do not emphasize penmenship. They do not use flashcards. They teach ‘simulated’ labs on Chromebooks instead of using hands-on materials. They quit teaching phonics for a decade. They quit teaching copying of notes at a controlled pace bc now bullets are thrown up on Google slides. They do not have students work through spellers each day of the week. Words are not written 3-6 times each week, sentences created on each word, definitions written out with phonetic and parts of speech, etc. Basic grammar has been ignored. Material is not introduced in fun and engaging ways. There’s a real lack of creativity.

The new teachers pick all of this stuff up from their college or career switcher programs.

Another thing is that there is always some new fad in education that is being pushed. A new teacher today and a teacher that was trained twenty years ago had drastically different training on basically every aspect of the job.

Teacher training sucked 20 years ago as well

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers in my childhood (I’m a millennial so, boomers and some Gen X taught me) had much much more authority and dignity. Its all about social media. Teachers now have their Disney vacations on their Insta, are complaining constantly in group chats, post begging links to Facebook. None of that makes the parent body respect them, which obviously impacts how students see them. By high school the students are mocking them too.

In my childhood if you saw a teacher out in public it was an event. Now everyone knows everything that they did at the weekend and it leads to disdain.

I don't see how a teacher posting about their Disney vacation makes one lose respect for them. We're allowed to have our own lives outside of the classroom. The mysticism you mention (that seeing a teacher in public was an "event") comes from the childish idea that teachers belong in one environment: the classroom. If social media did anything at all, it simply exposed teachers as fellow human beings. I don't see that as a bad thing at all.

The real problem you expose is that parents might seem comfortable mocking teachers in front of their children. I'm a Gen X teacher. I model respect in my home. If you're witnessing parents mocking teachers, and therefore encouraging their children to be equally rude, then that's not a "teacher" problem. That's a family relationship problem.

Because its while the class is taught by a sub and the school is preaching about absences.

This doesn’t bother me. Teachers are professionals and they are entitled to leave.

I don’t subscribe to the idea that teachers must sacrifice their own lives because they work with children. We don’t treat other professions like that.

And the “school” is not the “teacher.” Don’t get the two confused.

This bothers me. Teachers get 10+ weeks off in the summer, 1 week for spring break, 2 weeks for Xmas, MLK day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, mid winder break, a few others in there as well. That should be the time they use for vacations, routine health appts, and whatever other personal matters that need attention. Just as kids are expected to be in school daily and to plan their vacations and Dr appt around time off. Obv they should get sick days and days for emergent reasons- but my child’s first grade teacher went on a week vacation during the school year. Plus a bunch of other random days she took off during the year. That’s ridiculous

I’m a teacher and I no longer feel guilty for using my leave. I did for many years. I missed weddings and family reunions. I missed the opportunity to see my own child’s major presentation on her college campus. I missed taking her to college in the first place. I never used my leave because I was afraid of how I would be perceived, putting my own family above my students.

I no longer do that. My family comes first, as it should. If all things are equal, I’ll arrange my family vacations during the summer. But if an event happens during the school year, I’m going to be there.

I regret the many times I put work first. I’m a mother before I’m a teacher, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Since when are weddings and family reunions M-F during the school year? Kids are dropped off at colleges usually before k-12 school year starts and always on weekends. Again- teachers have more time off than literally any other profession

A Friday evening on the west coast (with a Thursday evening rehearsal dinner) when I live here requires that I take leave.

Her move-in date seven states away was on a Tuesday after school began.

Don’t presume to know somebody else’s life. You’ll be proven wrong almost every time.

And as I said before: I will no longer sacrifice my family, especially since I will never give enough to make certain people happy. This was a lesson I wish I learned at the start of my career.

Right. Right. The vast majority of these types of things are happening on weekends or time off already. There is zero reason to habitually miss class time for stuff like this

I think you’re missing the point.

Nobody says they are doing these things habitually. The comments upthread, however, argue that teachers have lost respect and credibility because they use their personal leave for things like Disney, etc.

There are many teachers who sacrifice far too much of their own lives. They grade every night. They skip activities on weekends to stay home and plan. They RSVP “no” to important life events for fear of taking leave.

I am a mentor teacher and I routinely tell younger teachers to go to that wedding or attend that family event. We need to normalize that teachers are parents / children / community members first and teachers second. When teachers find balance, they tend to stay in the profession. And that is far more important than whether a teacher takes a day of leave here or there for personal reasons.

It’s not a day here and there. Teachers are gone a ton. Every single year my kid has a sub at least once per month or more. That’s ridiculous.

Maybe your kid’s teacher was doing what I do. Taking days off so that they could actually get their work done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe teachers wouldn’t need to take so much time off if the job was what it was 20+ years ago. It’s not.

The job was awful 20 year ago also.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe teachers wouldn’t need to take so much time off if the job was what it was 20+ years ago. It’s not.

Exactly this. Exactly this.

I’ve been teaching for over 20 years. Every year is harder and every year is more stressful. I feel it in my back, my jaw, and my clenched muscles. This isn’t healthy.

And the downtrodden and defeated teachers in the faculty lounge? It wasn’t like this at the start of my career.

Yes it was. You just don’t remember.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers in my childhood (I’m a millennial so, boomers and some Gen X taught me) had much much more authority and dignity. Its all about social media. Teachers now have their Disney vacations on their Insta, are complaining constantly in group chats, post begging links to Facebook. None of that makes the parent body respect them, which obviously impacts how students see them. By high school the students are mocking them too.

In my childhood if you saw a teacher out in public it was an event. Now everyone knows everything that they did at the weekend and it leads to disdain.

I don't see how a teacher posting about their Disney vacation makes one lose respect for them. We're allowed to have our own lives outside of the classroom. The mysticism you mention (that seeing a teacher in public was an "event") comes from the childish idea that teachers belong in one environment: the classroom. If social media did anything at all, it simply exposed teachers as fellow human beings. I don't see that as a bad thing at all.

The real problem you expose is that parents might seem comfortable mocking teachers in front of their children. I'm a Gen X teacher. I model respect in my home. If you're witnessing parents mocking teachers, and therefore encouraging their children to be equally rude, then that's not a "teacher" problem. That's a family relationship problem.

Because its while the class is taught by a sub and the school is preaching about absences.

This doesn’t bother me. Teachers are professionals and they are entitled to leave.

I don’t subscribe to the idea that teachers must sacrifice their own lives because they work with children. We don’t treat other professions like that.

And the “school” is not the “teacher.” Don’t get the two confused.

This bothers me. Teachers get 10+ weeks off in the summer, 1 week for spring break, 2 weeks for Xmas, MLK day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, mid winder break, a few others in there as well. That should be the time they use for vacations, routine health appts, and whatever other personal matters that need attention. Just as kids are expected to be in school daily and to plan their vacations and Dr appt around time off. Obv they should get sick days and days for emergent reasons- but my child’s first grade teacher went on a week vacation during the school year. Plus a bunch of other random days she took off during the year. That’s ridiculous

I’m a teacher and I no longer feel guilty for using my leave. I did for many years. I missed weddings and family reunions. I missed the opportunity to see my own child’s major presentation on her college campus. I missed taking her to college in the first place. I never used my leave because I was afraid of how I would be perceived, putting my own family above my students.

I no longer do that. My family comes first, as it should. If all things are equal, I’ll arrange my family vacations during the summer. But if an event happens during the school year, I’m going to be there.

I regret the many times I put work first. I’m a mother before I’m a teacher, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Since when are weddings and family reunions M-F during the school year? Kids are dropped off at colleges usually before k-12 school year starts and always on weekends. Again- teachers have more time off than literally any other profession

A Friday evening on the west coast (with a Thursday evening rehearsal dinner) when I live here requires that I take leave.

Her move-in date seven states away was on a Tuesday after school began.

Don’t presume to know somebody else’s life. You’ll be proven wrong almost every time.

And as I said before: I will no longer sacrifice my family, especially since I will never give enough to make certain people happy. This was a lesson I wish I learned at the start of my career.

Right. Right. The vast majority of these types of things are happening on weekends or time off already. There is zero reason to habitually miss class time for stuff like this

I think you’re missing the point.

Nobody says they are doing these things habitually. The comments upthread, however, argue that teachers have lost respect and credibility because they use their personal leave for things like Disney, etc.

There are many teachers who sacrifice far too much of their own lives. They grade every night. They skip activities on weekends to stay home and plan. They RSVP “no” to important life events for fear of taking leave.

I am a mentor teacher and I routinely tell younger teachers to go to that wedding or attend that family event. We need to normalize that teachers are parents / children / community members first and teachers second. When teachers find balance, they tend to stay in the profession. And that is far more important than whether a teacher takes a day of leave here or there for personal reasons.

It’s not a day here and there. Teachers are gone a ton. Every single year my kid has a sub at least once per month or more. That’s ridiculous.

Maybe your kid’s teacher was doing what I do. Taking days off so that they could actually get their work done.

Not who you’re quoting— but you’re making a choice. If you choose to be out of the classroom because you can’t manage the workload, the parents are still the ones responsible for making sure their kid learns. So they’re hiring tutors on their own dime or using their free time (of which theres very little) to do what is supposed to happen at school.

Yes its the parents responsibility. But its not their responsibility to lie to their kids and say you’re an incredible teacher while paying someone else to teach them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers in my childhood (I’m a millennial so, boomers and some Gen X taught me) had much much more authority and dignity. Its all about social media. Teachers now have their Disney vacations on their Insta, are complaining constantly in group chats, post begging links to Facebook. None of that makes the parent body respect them, which obviously impacts how students see them. By high school the students are mocking them too.

In my childhood if you saw a teacher out in public it was an event. Now everyone knows everything that they did at the weekend and it leads to disdain.

I don't see how a teacher posting about their Disney vacation makes one lose respect for them. We're allowed to have our own lives outside of the classroom. The mysticism you mention (that seeing a teacher in public was an "event") comes from the childish idea that teachers belong in one environment: the classroom. If social media did anything at all, it simply exposed teachers as fellow human beings. I don't see that as a bad thing at all.

The real problem you expose is that parents might seem comfortable mocking teachers in front of their children. I'm a Gen X teacher. I model respect in my home. If you're witnessing parents mocking teachers, and therefore encouraging their children to be equally rude, then that's not a "teacher" problem. That's a family relationship problem.

Because its while the class is taught by a sub and the school is preaching about absences.

This doesn’t bother me. Teachers are professionals and they are entitled to leave.

I don’t subscribe to the idea that teachers must sacrifice their own lives because they work with children. We don’t treat other professions like that.

And the “school” is not the “teacher.” Don’t get the two confused.

This bothers me. Teachers get 10+ weeks off in the summer, 1 week for spring break, 2 weeks for Xmas, MLK day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, mid winder break, a few others in there as well. That should be the time they use for vacations, routine health appts, and whatever other personal matters that need attention. Just as kids are expected to be in school daily and to plan their vacations and Dr appt around time off. Obv they should get sick days and days for emergent reasons- but my child’s first grade teacher went on a week vacation during the school year. Plus a bunch of other random days she took off during the year. That’s ridiculous

I’m a teacher and I no longer feel guilty for using my leave. I did for many years. I missed weddings and family reunions. I missed the opportunity to see my own child’s major presentation on her college campus. I missed taking her to college in the first place. I never used my leave because I was afraid of how I would be perceived, putting my own family above my students.

I no longer do that. My family comes first, as it should. If all things are equal, I’ll arrange my family vacations during the summer. But if an event happens during the school year, I’m going to be there.

I regret the many times I put work first. I’m a mother before I’m a teacher, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Since when are weddings and family reunions M-F during the school year? Kids are dropped off at colleges usually before k-12 school year starts and always on weekends. Again- teachers have more time off than literally any other profession

A Friday evening on the west coast (with a Thursday evening rehearsal dinner) when I live here requires that I take leave.

Her move-in date seven states away was on a Tuesday after school began.

Don’t presume to know somebody else’s life. You’ll be proven wrong almost every time.

And as I said before: I will no longer sacrifice my family, especially since I will never give enough to make certain people happy. This was a lesson I wish I learned at the start of my career.

Right. Right. The vast majority of these types of things are happening on weekends or time off already. There is zero reason to habitually miss class time for stuff like this

I think you’re missing the point.

Nobody says they are doing these things habitually. The comments upthread, however, argue that teachers have lost respect and credibility because they use their personal leave for things like Disney, etc.

There are many teachers who sacrifice far too much of their own lives. They grade every night. They skip activities on weekends to stay home and plan. They RSVP “no” to important life events for fear of taking leave.

I am a mentor teacher and I routinely tell younger teachers to go to that wedding or attend that family event. We need to normalize that teachers are parents / children / community members first and teachers second. When teachers find balance, they tend to stay in the profession. And that is far more important than whether a teacher takes a day of leave here or there for personal reasons.

It’s not a day here and there. Teachers are gone a ton. Every single year my kid has a sub at least once per month or more. That’s ridiculous.

Maybe your kid’s teacher was doing what I do. Taking days off so that they could actually get their work done.

Not who you’re quoting— but you’re making a choice. If you choose to be out of the classroom because you can’t manage the workload, the parents are still the ones responsible for making sure their kid learns. So they’re hiring tutors on their own dime or using their free time (of which theres very little) to do what is supposed to happen at school.

Yes its the parents responsibility. But its not their responsibility to lie to their kids and say you’re an incredible teacher while paying someone else to teach them.

What’s your problem with teachers taking the personal days off that their contract allots them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers in my childhood (I’m a millennial so, boomers and some Gen X taught me) had much much more authority and dignity. Its all about social media. Teachers now have their Disney vacations on their Insta, are complaining constantly in group chats, post begging links to Facebook. None of that makes the parent body respect them, which obviously impacts how students see them. By high school the students are mocking them too.

In my childhood if you saw a teacher out in public it was an event. Now everyone knows everything that they did at the weekend and it leads to disdain.

I don't see how a teacher posting about their Disney vacation makes one lose respect for them. We're allowed to have our own lives outside of the classroom. The mysticism you mention (that seeing a teacher in public was an "event") comes from the childish idea that teachers belong in one environment: the classroom. If social media did anything at all, it simply exposed teachers as fellow human beings. I don't see that as a bad thing at all.

The real problem you expose is that parents might seem comfortable mocking teachers in front of their children. I'm a Gen X teacher. I model respect in my home. If you're witnessing parents mocking teachers, and therefore encouraging their children to be equally rude, then that's not a "teacher" problem. That's a family relationship problem.

Because its while the class is taught by a sub and the school is preaching about absences.

This doesn’t bother me. Teachers are professionals and they are entitled to leave.

I don’t subscribe to the idea that teachers must sacrifice their own lives because they work with children. We don’t treat other professions like that.

And the “school” is not the “teacher.” Don’t get the two confused.

This bothers me. Teachers get 10+ weeks off in the summer, 1 week for spring break, 2 weeks for Xmas, MLK day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, mid winder break, a few others in there as well. That should be the time they use for vacations, routine health appts, and whatever other personal matters that need attention. Just as kids are expected to be in school daily and to plan their vacations and Dr appt around time off. Obv they should get sick days and days for emergent reasons- but my child’s first grade teacher went on a week vacation during the school year. Plus a bunch of other random days she took off during the year. That’s ridiculous

I’m a teacher and I no longer feel guilty for using my leave. I did for many years. I missed weddings and family reunions. I missed the opportunity to see my own child’s major presentation on her college campus. I missed taking her to college in the first place. I never used my leave because I was afraid of how I would be perceived, putting my own family above my students.

I no longer do that. My family comes first, as it should. If all things are equal, I’ll arrange my family vacations during the summer. But if an event happens during the school year, I’m going to be there.

I regret the many times I put work first. I’m a mother before I’m a teacher, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Since when are weddings and family reunions M-F during the school year? Kids are dropped off at colleges usually before k-12 school year starts and always on weekends. Again- teachers have more time off than literally any other profession

A Friday evening on the west coast (with a Thursday evening rehearsal dinner) when I live here requires that I take leave.

Her move-in date seven states away was on a Tuesday after school began.

Don’t presume to know somebody else’s life. You’ll be proven wrong almost every time.

And as I said before: I will no longer sacrifice my family, especially since I will never give enough to make certain people happy. This was a lesson I wish I learned at the start of my career.

Right. Right. The vast majority of these types of things are happening on weekends or time off already. There is zero reason to habitually miss class time for stuff like this

I think you’re missing the point.

Nobody says they are doing these things habitually. The comments upthread, however, argue that teachers have lost respect and credibility because they use their personal leave for things like Disney, etc.

There are many teachers who sacrifice far too much of their own lives. They grade every night. They skip activities on weekends to stay home and plan. They RSVP “no” to important life events for fear of taking leave.

I am a mentor teacher and I routinely tell younger teachers to go to that wedding or attend that family event. We need to normalize that teachers are parents / children / community members first and teachers second. When teachers find balance, they tend to stay in the profession. And that is far more important than whether a teacher takes a day of leave here or there for personal reasons.

It’s not a day here and there. Teachers are gone a ton. Every single year my kid has a sub at least once per month or more. That’s ridiculous.

Maybe your kid’s teacher was doing what I do. Taking days off so that they could actually get their work done.

Not who you’re quoting— but you’re making a choice. If you choose to be out of the classroom because you can’t manage the workload, the parents are still the ones responsible for making sure their kid learns. So they’re hiring tutors on their own dime or using their free time (of which theres very little) to do what is supposed to happen at school.

Yes it’s the parents responsibility. But its not their responsibility to lie to their kids and say you’re an incredible teacher while paying someone else to teach them.

It’s not that I can’t mange the workload. It’s that the workload is utterly unreasonable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers in my childhood (I’m a millennial so, boomers and some Gen X taught me) had much much more authority and dignity. Its all about social media. Teachers now have their Disney vacations on their Insta, are complaining constantly in group chats, post begging links to Facebook. None of that makes the parent body respect them, which obviously impacts how students see them. By high school the students are mocking them too.

In my childhood if you saw a teacher out in public it was an event. Now everyone knows everything that they did at the weekend and it leads to disdain.

I don't see how a teacher posting about their Disney vacation makes one lose respect for them. We're allowed to have our own lives outside of the classroom. The mysticism you mention (that seeing a teacher in public was an "event") comes from the childish idea that teachers belong in one environment: the classroom. If social media did anything at all, it simply exposed teachers as fellow human beings. I don't see that as a bad thing at all.

The real problem you expose is that parents might seem comfortable mocking teachers in front of their children. I'm a Gen X teacher. I model respect in my home. If you're witnessing parents mocking teachers, and therefore encouraging their children to be equally rude, then that's not a "teacher" problem. That's a family relationship problem.

Because its while the class is taught by a sub and the school is preaching about absences.

This doesn’t bother me. Teachers are professionals and they are entitled to leave.

I don’t subscribe to the idea that teachers must sacrifice their own lives because they work with children. We don’t treat other professions like that.

And the “school” is not the “teacher.” Don’t get the two confused.

This bothers me. Teachers get 10+ weeks off in the summer, 1 week for spring break, 2 weeks for Xmas, MLK day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, mid winder break, a few others in there as well. That should be the time they use for vacations, routine health appts, and whatever other personal matters that need attention. Just as kids are expected to be in school daily and to plan their vacations and Dr appt around time off. Obv they should get sick days and days for emergent reasons- but my child’s first grade teacher went on a week vacation during the school year. Plus a bunch of other random days she took off during the year. That’s ridiculous

I’m a teacher and I no longer feel guilty for using my leave. I did for many years. I missed weddings and family reunions. I missed the opportunity to see my own child’s major presentation on her college campus. I missed taking her to college in the first place. I never used my leave because I was afraid of how I would be perceived, putting my own family above my students.

I no longer do that. My family comes first, as it should. If all things are equal, I’ll arrange my family vacations during the summer. But if an event happens during the school year, I’m going to be there.

I regret the many times I put work first. I’m a mother before I’m a teacher, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Since when are weddings and family reunions M-F during the school year? Kids are dropped off at colleges usually before k-12 school year starts and always on weekends. Again- teachers have more time off than literally any other profession

A Friday evening on the west coast (with a Thursday evening rehearsal dinner) when I live here requires that I take leave.

Her move-in date seven states away was on a Tuesday after school began.

Don’t presume to know somebody else’s life. You’ll be proven wrong almost every time.

And as I said before: I will no longer sacrifice my family, especially since I will never give enough to make certain people happy. This was a lesson I wish I learned at the start of my career.

Right. Right. The vast majority of these types of things are happening on weekends or time off already. There is zero reason to habitually miss class time for stuff like this

I think you’re missing the point.

Nobody says they are doing these things habitually. The comments upthread, however, argue that teachers have lost respect and credibility because they use their personal leave for things like Disney, etc.

There are many teachers who sacrifice far too much of their own lives. They grade every night. They skip activities on weekends to stay home and plan. They RSVP “no” to important life events for fear of taking leave.

I am a mentor teacher and I routinely tell younger teachers to go to that wedding or attend that family event. We need to normalize that teachers are parents / children / community members first and teachers second. When teachers find balance, they tend to stay in the profession. And that is far more important than whether a teacher takes a day of leave here or there for personal reasons.

It’s not a day here and there. Teachers are gone a ton. Every single year my kid has a sub at least once per month or more. That’s ridiculous.

Maybe your kid’s teacher was doing what I do. Taking days off so that they could actually get their work done.

Not who you’re quoting— but you’re making a choice. If you choose to be out of the classroom because you can’t manage the workload, the parents are still the ones responsible for making sure their kid learns. So they’re hiring tutors on their own dime or using their free time (of which theres very little) to do what is supposed to happen at school.

Yes its the parents responsibility. But its not their responsibility to lie to their kids and say you’re an incredible teacher while paying someone else to teach them.

NP, Not a teacher, but for the love of God just STFU already.

If your kid needs a private tutor because they have a substitute teacher once a month, it’s because your kid is an absolute idiot. Sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe teachers wouldn’t need to take so much time off if the job was what it was 20+ years ago. It’s not.

Exactly this. Exactly this.

I’ve been teaching for over 20 years. Every year is harder and every year is more stressful. I feel it in my back, my jaw, and my clenched muscles. This isn’t healthy.

And the downtrodden and defeated teachers in the faculty lounge? It wasn’t like this at the start of my career.

So leave. Complaining endlessly has never once improved anyone’s circumstances and this endless litany of (often astonishingly privileged) woe from teachers has made everyone immune.

This is a thread about teachers. You should expect that some of them are going to explain the working conditions to you. These aren’t expressions of resentment or anger; they are merely explanations of working conditions. Would I express this elsewhere? No. Does it belong here? Yes.

And if we all leave — because trust me when I say the majority of us feel this way — who would you replace us with? This shortage exists because of the very working conditions you don’t want to hear about. There aren’t people lining up for these jobs right now, so telling those of us who are passionate enough to endure these conditions to leave seems like a bad call.

Thank you for the opportunity for a laugh. Teachers aren’t just complaining here. It’s all over social media just like I said— not to mention the group chats, teacher boards, and conversations.

I would tell any professional who made claims that their job was unhealthy that they should leave it.

You have yet to answer my question: who will replace us as we continue to leave?

Those of us within the school buildings know we have two options:
1. Join the mass departure
2. Speak up about what’s going on in schools in a hope that conditions can improve. (You, I suppose, call that “complaining.”)

One of these options has the chance to fix the profession and therefore fix education for students. The other just continues the decline.

If you don’t want to hear teachers discussing their experiences, then I recommend getting off threads about teaching. You control your social media algorithm, so clearly you’re looking for this info if you’re getting so much of it. Interestingly, I don’t get that much.

Heres who will replace you, the highest jobless college graduating class which needs healthcare and student loan forgiveness:

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/06/college-graduates-job-market-unemployment.html

You may now leave and be glad an opportunity was available for someone who needed it.

What makes you think they’ll stay?

I really don’t think you understand what’s occurring right now. Sure, you can throw recent graduates into the classroom. They will also quit.
That’s already happening with the existing career changer programs.

When the job is unsustainable, people don’t stay. So we have a revolving door of inexperienced educators who come, struggle for two years, and then quit. Those of us who have been doing this for decades are enduring better than newer teachers, but we are retiring soon. When we leave, so does the organizational knowledge that keeps schools running.

You may be comfortable with the “chew them up and spit them out” environment right now for teachers, but I’m not. So I’m going to continue to speak up for my profession. You can listen or you can choose not to. Either way, I’m speaking.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Teachers in my childhood (I’m a millennial so, boomers and some Gen X taught me) had much much more authority and dignity. Its all about social media. Teachers now have their Disney vacations on their Insta, are complaining constantly in group chats, post begging links to Facebook. None of that makes the parent body respect them, which obviously impacts how students see them. By high school the students are mocking them too.

In my childhood if you saw a teacher out in public it was an event. Now everyone knows everything that they did at the weekend and it leads to disdain.

I don't see how a teacher posting about their Disney vacation makes one lose respect for them. We're allowed to have our own lives outside of the classroom. The mysticism you mention (that seeing a teacher in public was an "event") comes from the childish idea that teachers belong in one environment: the classroom. If social media did anything at all, it simply exposed teachers as fellow human beings. I don't see that as a bad thing at all.

The real problem you expose is that parents might seem comfortable mocking teachers in front of their children. I'm a Gen X teacher. I model respect in my home. If you're witnessing parents mocking teachers, and therefore encouraging their children to be equally rude, then that's not a "teacher" problem. That's a family relationship problem.

Because its while the class is taught by a sub and the school is preaching about absences.

This doesn’t bother me. Teachers are professionals and they are entitled to leave.

I don’t subscribe to the idea that teachers must sacrifice their own lives because they work with children. We don’t treat other professions like that.

And the “school” is not the “teacher.” Don’t get the two confused.

This bothers me. Teachers get 10+ weeks off in the summer, 1 week for spring break, 2 weeks for Xmas, MLK day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, mid winder break, a few others in there as well. That should be the time they use for vacations, routine health appts, and whatever other personal matters that need attention. Just as kids are expected to be in school daily and to plan their vacations and Dr appt around time off. Obv they should get sick days and days for emergent reasons- but my child’s first grade teacher went on a week vacation during the school year. Plus a bunch of other random days she took off during the year. That’s ridiculous

I’m a teacher and I no longer feel guilty for using my leave. I did for many years. I missed weddings and family reunions. I missed the opportunity to see my own child’s major presentation on her college campus. I missed taking her to college in the first place. I never used my leave because I was afraid of how I would be perceived, putting my own family above my students.

I no longer do that. My family comes first, as it should. If all things are equal, I’ll arrange my family vacations during the summer. But if an event happens during the school year, I’m going to be there.

I regret the many times I put work first. I’m a mother before I’m a teacher, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Since when are weddings and family reunions M-F during the school year? Kids are dropped off at colleges usually before k-12 school year starts and always on weekends. Again- teachers have more time off than literally any other profession

A Friday evening on the west coast (with a Thursday evening rehearsal dinner) when I live here requires that I take leave.

Her move-in date seven states away was on a Tuesday after school began.

Don’t presume to know somebody else’s life. You’ll be proven wrong almost every time.

And as I said before: I will no longer sacrifice my family, especially since I will never give enough to make certain people happy. This was a lesson I wish I learned at the start of my career.

Right. Right. The vast majority of these types of things are happening on weekends or time off already. There is zero reason to habitually miss class time for stuff like this

I think you’re missing the point.

Nobody says they are doing these things habitually. The comments upthread, however, argue that teachers have lost respect and credibility because they use their personal leave for things like Disney, etc.

There are many teachers who sacrifice far too much of their own lives. They grade every night. They skip activities on weekends to stay home and plan. They RSVP “no” to important life events for fear of taking leave.

I am a mentor teacher and I routinely tell younger teachers to go to that wedding or attend that family event. We need to normalize that teachers are parents / children / community members first and teachers second. When teachers find balance, they tend to stay in the profession. And that is far more important than whether a teacher takes a day of leave here or there for personal reasons.

It’s not a day here and there. Teachers are gone a ton. Every single year my kid has a sub at least once per month or more. That’s ridiculous.

Maybe your kid’s teacher was doing what I do. Taking days off so that they could actually get their work done.

Not who you’re quoting— but you’re making a choice. If you choose to be out of the classroom because you can’t manage the workload, the parents are still the ones responsible for making sure their kid learns. So they’re hiring tutors on their own dime or using their free time (of which theres very little) to do what is supposed to happen at school.

Yes it’s the parents responsibility. But its not their responsibility to lie to their kids and say you’re an incredible teacher while paying someone else to teach them.

It’s not that I can’t mange the workload. It’s that the workload is utterly unreasonable.

Another teacher here. You are correct.

But someone who has never taught can’t imagine what we are experiencing.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Maybe teachers wouldn’t need to take so much time off if the job was what it was 20+ years ago. It’s not.

Exactly this. Exactly this.

I’ve been teaching for over 20 years. Every year is harder and every year is more stressful. I feel it in my back, my jaw, and my clenched muscles. This isn’t healthy.

And the downtrodden and defeated teachers in the faculty lounge? It wasn’t like this at the start of my career.

So leave. Complaining endlessly has never once improved anyone’s circumstances and this endless litany of (often astonishingly privileged) woe from teachers has made everyone immune.

This is a thread about teachers. You should expect that some of them are going to explain the working conditions to you. These aren’t expressions of resentment or anger; they are merely explanations of working conditions. Would I express this elsewhere? No. Does it belong here? Yes.

And if we all leave — because trust me when I say the majority of us feel this way — who would you replace us with? This shortage exists because of the very working conditions you don’t want to hear about. There aren’t people lining up for these jobs right now, so telling those of us who are passionate enough to endure these conditions to leave seems like a bad call.

Thank you for the opportunity for a laugh. Teachers aren’t just complaining here. It’s all over social media just like I said— not to mention the group chats, teacher boards, and conversations.

I would tell any professional who made claims that their job was unhealthy that they should leave it.

You have yet to answer my question: who will replace us as we continue to leave?

Those of us within the school buildings know we have two options:
1. Join the mass departure
2. Speak up about what’s going on in schools in a hope that conditions can improve. (You, I suppose, call that “complaining.”)

One of these options has the chance to fix the profession and therefore fix education for students. The other just continues the decline.

If you don’t want to hear teachers discussing their experiences, then I recommend getting off threads about teaching. You control your social media algorithm, so clearly you’re looking for this info if you’re getting so much of it. Interestingly, I don’t get that much.

Heres who will replace you, the highest jobless college graduating class which needs healthcare and student loan forgiveness:

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/06/college-graduates-job-market-unemployment.html

You may now leave and be glad an opportunity was available for someone who needed it.

What makes you think they’ll stay?

I really don’t think you understand what’s occurring right now. Sure, you can throw recent graduates into the classroom. They will also quit.
That’s already happening with the existing career changer programs.

When the job is unsustainable, people don’t stay. So we have a revolving door of inexperienced educators who come, struggle for two years, and then quit. Those of us who have been doing this for decades are enduring better than newer teachers, but we are retiring soon. When we leave, so does the organizational knowledge that keeps schools running.

You may be comfortable with the “chew them up and spit them out” environment right now for teachers, but I’m not. So I’m going to continue to speak up for my profession. You can listen or you can choose not to. Either way, I’m speaking.

What makes you think it matters?

Bad teachers never, ever leave. Trash is passed, principals assure parents the “issue is being addressed” and the parents with resources (or lawyers) are able to avoid putting their kids in that class.

An environment with higher turnover might result in losing good teachers but might also result in losing the bad ones