White House formally declaring teachers essential workers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I was a first year teacher, I cried every single day. I teach elementary school. I was bitten, scratched, hit, and cursed at. I had to teach kids who didn’t know their letters and kids who could write an essay in the same class. I had to contend with visits from the state, the superintendent, and the district in which they watch you with the students and pull apart your classroom to analyze student learning, teaching practice, and progress monitoring. I had to change four bulletin boards every week with updated graded student work samples, and update them with the changes requested by administration. I taught the maximum number of contractually permitted periods every week. I came early and stayed late every day, and continued to work from home when I was kicked out by security. You have NO idea what goes in to teaching. Absolutely none. I hope you enjoy your children at home this year, and learn to respect the people who do what you can not for them.

Hi, first we really appreciate all that good teachers like you do for our kids. Teachers like you going above and beyond keep are one of the biggest reason our kids succeed. We all can pinpoint our one or two teachers who have been exceptional for us and without them we would never be where we would be. Thank you again!


2nd, I think the exceptionally hard part in teaching was partly because it was your first year of teaching. I am a nurse and my first year of nursing was just as bad. A lot of nurses cry their first year too. I imagine it may be the same in all professions starting off. It is a steep learning curve when you're new. After the 1-2 years, everything was very natural. Same thing happened when I switched to work in an ICU with critically sick patients. I cried my first year, months of extra studying just so I don't kill my patients. Again, after 2 years everything was like muscle memory. You learn something new everyday, but you always manage your work without feeling despair. This year COVID came and the same thing. I spent tons of my free time studying about it, new articles, studies, training etc. Some were during work hours but majority were during my free time. I think the hospitals are getting much more comfortable/ efficient taking care of the COVID 19 patients than they were in March.

I really hope we get out of this mess soon. Emotions are high right now and we all are in crappy positions....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unemployed at 20% let's hire people that wanna work

I would be interested in seeing what percentage of the unemployed meet the minimum requirements to work in a school. If done well a program could funnel many new staff into schools and help deal with shortages in the future.

My district had to lower the standards to attract more subs but the crappy pay wasn't very competitive prior to covid when unemployment was low.

Exactly. The bus drivers get paid more. Of course, they aren't working right now but if they try to get hired as subs then they will actually be making less money. That's pretty sad.