Why does no one acknowledge how overworked teachers are?

[Anonymous]

I think that extreme SN accommodations like 1:1 aides should be temporary short term measures ONLY. Like just for an adjustment period to try to ease the kid back into true mainstream classes or test whether they could handle it. A couple of weeks up to a month max.

If the kid needs a 1:1 aide indefinitely then they should be in a special school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think this video is an important reminder for parents and administrators

https://fb.watch/hcxdi1BUVj/?mibextid=0LFGlp

They are overworked because:

B$ new experimental ELA and math curricula rolled out every 5 years.
Economic migrant kids and parents who never went to school anywhere nor understand English
No consequences for disruptive or aggressive behavior
No consequences for not listening, not doing homework, not doing well in tests
Too many days off throughout the months for routine or continuity of learning and teaching
Some class sizes are too large, too much development and sanctuary city status in MoCo and Fairfax (not DC ironically)
Uninvolved, uneducated parent(s) or neglectful educated parents w spoilt kids
Low standards and expectations for students of all ages
No sense of community

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And the elephant in the room is......

WTF is happening that so many kids are having problems, whether they be learning disabilities, emotional issues, behavioral issues, etc.?

There is a tipping point where so many kids need therapies, special interventions, special accommodations, etc, that it becomes unsustainable. Not to mention the cost to the future of society when we have a generation of kids that aren't learning, CAN NOT learn, need "extra" help to learn, are disrupting learning, cannot focus, cannot sit still and follow rules, are disruptive and even violent. When you read this whole thread, this is a common theme and it stands out so starkly to me, yet the whole thread is focusing on teachers.

I personally don't believe it is possible to give every child exactly what they need in a public school setting. Especially true if so many kids need so much extra. It just seems like the paperwork alone is too cumbersome for teachers to keep up with. Pretty soon they will have 25 kids with IEPs that need documenting, accommodations, and she will spin herself in circles trying to keep everyone happy. Not to mention the problems that come along with kids that aren't being parented at all.

This is a society/culture/mental health/physical health issue. Not a school and teacher issue. The schools are just where the problems are coming to a head and get the most notice.

Well, if they brought back time-tested methods like phonics, math facts, worksheets, spelling tests, grammar lessons that would greatly help the early childhood development and foundational side.

And if they brought back 3x a week gym and more frequent art and music class and a sneaky recess, that would get out the wiggles.

And if they brought back appropriate levels of homework and handed back graded work and tests to go over, that would be another learning feedback loop and helpful for parents.

Also bring back flunking a grade, detention / suspension/ expulsion. And penalties for tardiness and too many absences, esp with no upfront effort to catch up or help

[Anonymous]

I'm sure in 33 pages this has been mentioned, argued, dismissed and ridiculed...but while I appreciate our teachers, I don't think they're any more overworked than I am. It's a job for a paycheck. If one feels it's too much, there are other jobs.

[Anonymous]

More teaching less meetings.

More tracking

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sure in 33 pages this has been mentioned, argued, dismissed and ridiculed...but while I appreciate our teachers, I don't think they're any more overworked than I am. It's a job for a paycheck. If one feels it's too much, there are other jobs.

What are you compensated for being overworked? I’m sure it’s a lot more than teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sure in 33 pages this has been mentioned, argued, dismissed and ridiculed...but while I appreciate our teachers, I don't think they're any more overworked than I am. It's a job for a paycheck. If one feels it's too much, there are other jobs.

I'm teaching content right now to multiple children who lost parents to gun violence over winter break. I don't know your job, but I know most jobs don't require the emotional effort that teaching takes, on top of the actual "work" of the job.

Teachers realize there are other jobs; that's why there is a shortage of teachers right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm sure in 33 pages this has been mentioned, argued, dismissed and ridiculed...but while I appreciate our teachers, I don't think they're any more overworked than I am. It's a job for a paycheck. If one feels it's too much, there are other jobs.

I'm teaching content right now to multiple children who lost parents to gun violence over winter break. I don't know your job, but I know most jobs don't require the emotional effort that teaching takes, on top of the actual "work" of the job.

Teachers realize there are other jobs; that's why there is a shortage of teachers right now.

Where are you? inner city Baltimore of south side chicago or Anacostia? Kingston?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm sure in 33 pages this has been mentioned, argued, dismissed and ridiculed...but while I appreciate our teachers, I don't think they're any more overworked than I am. It's a job for a paycheck. If one feels it's too much, there are other jobs.

I'm teaching content right now to multiple children who lost parents to gun violence over winter break. I don't know your job, but I know most jobs don't require the emotional effort that teaching takes, on top of the actual "work" of the job.

Teachers realize there are other jobs; that's why there is a shortage of teachers right now.

+1 and the shortage will continue. We have two teachers leaving teaching mid year....there are other jobs and their mental health is important.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm sure in 33 pages this has been mentioned, argued, dismissed and ridiculed...but while I appreciate our teachers, I don't think they're any more overworked than I am. It's a job for a paycheck. If one feels it's too much, there are other jobs.

I'm teaching content right now to multiple children who lost parents to gun violence over winter break. I don't know your job, but I know most jobs don't require the emotional effort that teaching takes, on top of the actual "work" of the job.

Teachers realize there are other jobs; that's why there is a shortage of teachers right now.

+1 and the shortage will continue. We have two teachers leaving teaching mid year....there are other jobs and their mental health is important.

My own child lost two of her middle school teachers right before break. Both quit mid-year for other opportunities.

I’m also a teacher. I’m holding on to the end of the year, but I’m also leaving.

I’m tired. It’s losing every weekend to planning and grading. It’s being on the go-go-go-go-go without a single moment to catch up during the work day. It’s having to always be “on.” I may have 5 minutes between classes, but instead of running to the bathroom or the refrigerator, I almost always spend it counseling a child. It’s being bogged down in a never-ending avalanche of paperwork. It’s missing everything in my own children’s lives because they become second priority to my 140 students.

I posted earlier on this thread. My department has lost 8 teachers in recent years, and each has moved to a job with more pay and less stress. That’s very motivating.

I’m going to miss teaching. I really love it, and I’m really good at it. I just can’t fight the desire to reclaim my own life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the teacher that has three hours of planning time per week, you are lucky. In our school, we are pulled from our planning time to go cover other classrooms where teachers is out, no sub is available

That happens in our school district, but teachers do get paid for the time the spend subbing/covering. $18/hour

My teenage gets paid more than that and he’s in high school!

Go get an education.

I'm curious what your point is. Are you saying that people should get an education, so they can earn more than 18 dollars an hour, so that they can avoid being subs, so that we can make the substitute teaching shortage even worse?

I am a substitute teacher and I have a law degree. I won't say no to that 18 dollars an hour, but I'm not doing it for the money. I'm doing it because I care about education and there is a sub shortage. Most hourly subs I know are in my same boat: SAHMs who have degrees and want to give back to the community, but don't want to find before or after school childcare. We are basically doing it out of the goodness of our heart, and we rely on that same sort of altruism to keep teachers in their role as well. Based on all the issues with public education today that is far from a sustainable model.

I

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the teacher that has three hours of planning time per week, you are lucky. In our school, we are pulled from our planning time to go cover other classrooms where teachers is out, no sub is available

That happens in our school district, but teachers do get paid for the time the spend subbing/covering. $18/hour

My teenage gets paid more than that and he’s in high school!

Go get an education.

He has one. It allows him to get jobs that pay for than that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm sure in 33 pages this has been mentioned, argued, dismissed and ridiculed...but while I appreciate our teachers, I don't think they're any more overworked than I am. It's a job for a paycheck. If one feels it's too much, there are other jobs.

What are you compensated for being overworked? I’m sure it’s a lot more than teachers.

Haven’t visited this thread in a while, but apparently the assumption that all parents make more than teachers is persisting.

My kid’s teacher makes $125k a year. I make 70k and my DH makes 105k. I have a graduate degree and he went to an Ivy. We both work in public interest jobs. Our jobs can be draining and hard (I am a social worker, he is a civil engineer who works for municipal government). Plus we have small children.

I am sorry teachers feel overworked. I’m sorry anyone does. But teachers are not uniquely burdened in this way snd many of the parents of the kids in your classrooms are underpaid and overworked. Unless you work at a high SES school, in which case— your job as a teacher is easier and that is also your choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm sure in 33 pages this has been mentioned, argued, dismissed and ridiculed...but while I appreciate our teachers, I don't think they're any more overworked than I am. It's a job for a paycheck. If one feels it's too much, there are other jobs.

What are you compensated for being overworked? I’m sure it’s a lot more than teachers.

Haven’t visited this thread in a while, but apparently the assumption that all parents make more than teachers is persisting.

My kid’s teacher makes $125k a year. I make 70k and my DH makes 105k. I have a graduate degree and he went to an Ivy. We both work in public interest jobs. Our jobs can be draining and hard (I am a social worker, he is a civil engineer who works for municipal government). Plus we have small children.

I am sorry teachers feel overworked. I’m sorry anyone does. But teachers are not uniquely burdened in this way snd many of the parents of the kids in your classrooms are underpaid and overworked. Unless you work at a high SES school, in which case— your job as a teacher is easier and that is also your choice.

Disagree. I am a special ed para in a special ed classroom. Teachers ARE uniquely burdened. From being physically abused by students and verbally abused by parents and advocates (and sometimes administration), and overworked - teaching all day - and covering when a colleague is out, so no breaks, paperwork is an entirely different kind of burden, from data collection to IEP meetings, not to mention other administrative tasks that really don't relate to teaching but are required.

You really have no idea what you are talking about

Teachers are leaving at higher rates than ever before. And if you don't believe they are overburdened, you aren't living in reality

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm sure in 33 pages this has been mentioned, argued, dismissed and ridiculed...but while I appreciate our teachers, I don't think they're any more overworked than I am. It's a job for a paycheck. If one feels it's too much, there are other jobs.

What are you compensated for being overworked? I’m sure it’s a lot more than teachers.

Haven’t visited this thread in a while, but apparently the assumption that all parents make more than teachers is persisting.

My kid’s teacher makes $125k a year. I make 70k and my DH makes 105k. I have a graduate degree and he went to an Ivy. We both work in public interest jobs. Our jobs can be draining and hard (I am a social worker, he is a civil engineer who works for municipal government). Plus we have small children.

I am sorry teachers feel overworked. I’m sorry anyone does. But teachers are not uniquely burdened in this way snd many of the parents of the kids in your classrooms are underpaid and overworked. Unless you work at a high SES school, in which case— your job as a teacher is easier and that is also your choice.

Disagree. I am a special ed para in a special ed classroom. Teachers ARE uniquely burdened. From being physically abused by students and verbally abused by parents and advocates (and sometimes administration), and overworked - teaching all day - and covering when a colleague is out, so no breaks, paperwork is an entirely different kind of burden, from data collection to IEP meetings, not to mention other administrative tasks that really don't relate to teaching but are required.

You really have no idea what you are talking about

Teachers are leaving at higher rates than ever before. And if you don't believe they are overburdened, you aren't living in reality

The fact that as a social worker PP thinks teachers are not "uniquely burdened" says a lot. Unfortunately as a SPED teacher I had a lot of interactions with various social workers and very few of them were people I would consider hard working or even good at their jobs.