Those that understand, teach
Here’s another post that isn’t directly related to the earth sciences, but since everything is in some way related to the earth I vote that it’s justified anyway.
There’s been quite a stir in the news lately about the critical shortage of teachers (and support staff) as we begin another school year. Considering that our kids will start heading back within the week this is a real problem, and there is no apparent solution. What to do in the short term? I’ve heard several proposals; including one that suggests — regardless of training or lack thereof — that we bring veterans (or anyone else who may be willing) into the classroom. While surely PC, one has to wonder…
Whatever. Having been in front of a classroom in one capacity or another for over forty years, I am understandably fascinated by this new bone of contention in the ever-polarized United States. Being fully of the mindset that quality public education is a big part of what Made America Great in the first place, I hope some common ground can be found.
No doubt, teachers (and support staff) are leaving the profession in droves, and the pundits are frantically throwing all possible explanations against the wall, hoping something will stick. And one has! Whether you subscribe to Fox or CNN or the self-avowed expert pontificating his or her pearls of wisdom in front of the Post Office, one of the chestnuts nearly all of us grumble about, no matter how we fill our rice bowl, is at the top of everyone’s list: substandard pay.
Are teachers poorly compensated for the burden they shoulder? I’ll let you draw your own conclusion, but the short version from where I sit is probably yes.
But that may not be the overarching reason. In my view it’s something much deeper, and potentially more damaging: a blatant lack of respect for the profession.
Consider a few realities of life as an educator — whether pre-school, K-12, or college…
The problems started centuries ago. It seems like teachers have always been handed the rough end of the pineapple. Think what it was like for a female educator in the early days of our country: dress and appearance codes; marriage and living requirements; what to eat and drink; when to sleep and when to be awake. Every aspect of their lives was controlled.
And while modern-day educators may enjoy a bit more latitude with regard to lifestyle, a general lack of respect, accompanied by snide innuendo, continue. We’ve all heard the clichés, including my personal pet peeve: “Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach.”
What crap! It’s interesting to note how many of the most vocal have never set foot in a classroom, or if they have (“I volunteered last month and saw it all”), an hour here and there doesn’t even touch the day-in, day-out reality that full-time educators endure. I like the alternative version: “Those who can, do; those who understand, teach.” This one hits much closer to the center ring.
Need more? Consider that a teacher is NEVER off duty. Susie taught kindergarten for over twenty years and touched the lives of many. But… a trip to town was, and is, always potentially stressful. She (as well as all good teachers who care about their charges) had to be clean and well dressed and clear-headed, and ready to run into a student. Or an ex-student. Or a parent of a student or ex-student. I certainly had (and still have) the same issue, but nothing like Susie! A store run? She sees them there regularly (and is now running into them with their own kids in tow). The county fair? Of course. Disneyland? Yep. “Mommy, look, it’s my teacher.” Imagine if your life — and all trips from home — held that same potential for having to be frisky, alert, and utterly faultless.
Speaking of being on duty: In many parts of our country a teacher is what is called a “Mandatory Reporter.” What this means is that if an educator witnesses “child abuse” in any of its myriad forms — at any location day or night — they are required to alert the appropriate authorities or face the repercussions. Imagine what this is like! Here’s another cliché for your collection: “Damned if you do, damned if you don’t,” and God help you if you get it wrong!
Parent-Teacher conferences can be a special challenge. All effective teachers I’ve even known loved them, and appreciated the opportunity to interact with Mom and/or Dad. But… not all parents arrive happy and respectful. They are allowed to vent and scream and cast blame all they want, and the teacher is forced to sit there and take it, with no serious rebuttal allowed. And if things get out of hand and the issue gets bumped up to include the administration? More often than not the admin will side with the parent, at least publicly. But, seriously, what else can they do? Again there are plenty of platitudes that would work, but “The squeaky wheel gets the grease” probably sums it up best.
What about school safety in the light of the unconscionable mass shootings at public schools across the nation? We all want our kids to be safe and rightfully demand it, but… some now propose to arm teachers and make them responsible for classroom security. “The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.” Please… take a moment to consider the reality of what this could look like!
And the pay is probably an issue as well. Sure, in most cases it may sound like teachers get a living wage, but then consider something as innocuous as shrinking supply budgets in many districts. Every year Susie spent hundreds — sometimes many hundreds — of dollars purchasing the supplies she needed so her kids could do the projects, have the necessary resources, and even a bit of enjoyment during the hours they were in her care. I honestly do not know a teacher who cares that doesn’t pull out their wallet repeatedly to fund the necessities that the meager supply budget can’t or won’t cover. So much for excessive pay!
I got my first salaried position in 1977 when the needs of the job — in this case a nickel, cobalt, and chromium prospect with a crew of forty — became greater than what $40 a day could justify. “The pay isn’t great but at least the hours are long” is what Lloyd promised, and my boss was right on both accounts. On a normal day I’d crawl into bed well after midnight and be up by 4:30 am to coordinate with the heavy equipment contractor. A teacher lives much the same reality. Sure, the classroom time may be less than eight hours, but any teacher who wants to be effective will need to spend an equal amount of time off center stage; grading papers, writing exams, preparing lesson plans, and all of the other requirements of the profession that need to be covered… just not between the bells.
Need to balance a budget? No problem — take money away from the schools. “They waste most of it, and the kids aren’t learning anything important anyway.” Couple this with “No child left behind” and the distribution of funding becomes especially challenging. So when the decisions are made about how to allocate the meager funds, the TAG program and girl’s soccer and the chess club get cut to support what are referred to as “unfunded mandates.” But let’s make sure we’re on the same page: the issue isn’t that schools shouldn’t be inclusive for all of God’s children; it’s more that the tax-paying population is unwilling to fund all that is needed.
Sometimes it seems like the only time public school educators get any grudging respect is when — like during the Covid-19 shutdowns — the schools are closed and parents are forced to take responsibility for their kids during the day. “Oh my, this is too much like work! We need the schools to reopen so I can get back to my life.” It may be couched in terms like “For the good of the kids” and “My child needs an education to prepare for life in the real world,” but we all know what the main sticking point is for many: “We need our free daycare back!”
I know this has become overlong, but one last observation: if taking care of the needs and wants of one or two of your own children all-day every-day is problematic, imagine what it’s like taking care of an overloaded classroom with thirty or more of someone else’s darlings; all of whom have different needs and values and upbringing. But remember: you are required by law and ethics to satisfy all of them, with few if any disciplinary tools at your disposal. And don’t think for a moment that all of them don’t know that you are powerless to enforce anything (and some of them will do anything they can to get your goat — sorry, but for every wonderful student there is at least one who is determined to be a butt).
Don’t get me wrong. I’ve worn a great many hats in my life and been successful enough in all of them to support my family, but being a teacher has to be the best and most rewarding thing I’ve ever done. Not the pay — I made a lot more money as an exploration geologist and a graphic designer and even as a carpenter. Nor do I miss the lack of respect or the 24/7/365 nature of the gig.
It was the time spent with the students. There is nothing better than holding forth in front of the class when the spirit is with you and the kids are with you, the lesson is resonating, and the lights come on all across the room.
So yeah, teachers (and support staff) are bailing out at an unprecedented rate, but if you really want to Make America Great Again, support education with your thoughts and tax dollars. Like it says at the top: Those that understand, teach.
