Talking Points
- “Return to normal? Normal was awful.” (p. 7) This quote shows how schools should actively challenge the idea of “normal”. “Normal” is how underfunding is masked by temporary fixes, like corporate donations or policy changes that lower standards (such as easing substitute teacher requirements). These “solutions” avoid addressing the root issue and instead reinforce the idea that schools can continue operating without proper investment. Teachers are constantly filling gaps financial, emotional, and instructional. This is usually at their own expense. An example from Abbott Elementary is when the 2nd grade teacher makes a tik tok video just to ask people on the internet for supplies like right handed scissors while their building is also falling apart.
Teacher burnout and shortages are reaching a crisis point. These days many teachers are leaving due to low pay, high stress, and lack of support, especially after the pandemic. There are hundreds of thousands fewer educators than before COVID, and many more are still considering leaving early. As this continues, it creates heavier workloads for remaining teachers, which overall makes the problem worse.
Also public attacks and lack of respect are pushing teachers out. We can see even in this class (502) all of the different social issues that arise that we then have to address, let alone different personal things our students may be going through. Teachers are pressured around issues like curriculum (race, identity), which increases stress and discourages people from staying in the profession. All of this constant criticism makes teachers feel undervalued and expendable. When these experienced teachers leave, schools are put in a spot where they replace them with substitutes, volunteers, or under-
qualified staff weakens education quality.
Making Connections
I could never see myself doing anything else. I feel as though I could go on and on about this topic for days, like when I don’t want to take a personal vacation day or two because what if I get sick and run out of paid days off? Feeling a little sick? It’s easier to just muscle through than to have a substitute that may or may not be qualified.
In relation to teacher burnout, PE and its teachers are often overlooked compared to academic subjects. It becomes second, but studs need movement everyday to help them focus on other important subjects like math, ELA, etc.The article explains how teachers are increasingly criticized and undervalued. In a Catholic school, even though our behavioral problems aren’t as many typically because we can more or less choose who attends, I am significantly underpaid even compared to a first year public school PE teacher, with more on my plate being the AD. The article's point about the impact on students is especially relevant as well. In a PE setting, students benefit from consistency of routine, relationships with peers, and an overall safe environment to grow physically and socially.
Overall both of these articles highlight how the expectation for teachers to “just make do” and how it has become normalized and damaging. The examples Abbott Elementary illustrates this reality in a way that feels almost exaggerated, yet it reflects what many educators actually experience. If you haven't watched it, I would definitely reccomend. I also got the “Abstinence-only education continues to flourish” article and even though it is from 2003, I am looking forward to reading it. I linked both below if you would like to read.
LINK TO WHAT IT IS LIKE BEING A TEACHER TODAY
LINK TO ABSTINENCE-ONLY EDUCATION CONTINUES TO FLOURISH
That opening quote you chose really sticks, and I like how you connect it to the idea that “normal” was never actually working for teachers or students. Your example from Abbott Elementary makes it feel very real too. It shows how these gaps are often treated as something teachers just have to solve on their own instead of something the system should fix.
ReplyDeleteYour personal experience adds a lot to this. Balancing multiple jobs while still showing up for your students really highlights the bigger issue the article is getting at. It’s not just burnout from workload, but also from feeling undervalued and under-supported. The part where you mentioned pushing through being sick instead of taking a day off really stood out, because that feels like something a lot of educators can relate to.
I also appreciate how you brought attention to PE specifically. It’s easy for subjects like that to be overlooked, even though they play such an important role in students’ overall well-being. Your post makes it clear that these issues go beyond one type of school or subject area and are part of a much bigger problem.
Hi Alida, You had me at Janine! I love everything about this show. I want to be the school nurse- seriously! Every week, they step up and give it their all, making do with what little they have, and solve the problem. Who else could make a mall into a school? Their hearts are all in for their students. It may be a bit exaggerated but I do think it is reflective of the many struggles facing educators- lack of support from the district, underfunding, limited resources and a school in dire need of repair. Your job sounds very demanding. Overworked and underpaid for sure. There are definitely more financial benefits working for the public school system. It is admirable that you care so much for your students but you need to care for yourself as well- that means taking time for you. I hope you have a very restful Spring break! Thank you for posting the "abstinence only" link! The first link isn't working though, need to request access.
ReplyDeleteI really appreciated your honesty in this post. Your experience juggling multiple roles and still showing such dedication to your students really stood out to me. Teacher burnout and how much educators are expected to take on, often without enough support is a growing problem. I also liked how you highlighted the value of PE and how it supports students beyond academics - so true!
ReplyDeleteHey Alida,
ReplyDeleteI really liked your post because it seemed very real and honest. I also liked how you broke down the quote about "normal" being awful into what it really means for teachers. It's not just a saying; people really do live it every day.
What stood out to me the most was your own experience. The way you talked about how you worked more than one job while still teaching shows how much teachers are expected to do. And the fact that your students are even questioning it says a lot, like they can see that it's not fair.
I also liked that you brought up PE because it's not always given the same amount of attention as other subjects. But as you said, students need that time to move around and reset. It's not extra time; it's important.
It also felt very real that you should push through being sick instead of taking time off. A lot of people don't talk about that, but it shows how alone teachers can feel.
Your post really showed that this isn't just about burnout; it's also about a system that expects teachers to keep giving without getting enough in return.
Hi Alida! Thanks for sharing your reflection. I love that you can really feel your passion about these topics. I think it is so important that you share with your students that you have other jobs. We've discussed teachers being comfortable sharing to build an open space for the kids to share and you are doing this. I've also decided that having side jobs is a lot of work, but also a great way reduce the burnout in one job. You are able to use your skills in different ways and it adds a little diversity to you day to day.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your reflections, Alida! Really made me think and made so many connections!
ReplyDeleteHi Alida!
ReplyDeleteYour breakdown of what that normal actually looks like is so true. The Abbott Elementary example says it all too. A teacher making a TikTok begging strangers for scissors is funny until you realize it is just a casual weekday for a lot of educators. It also made me think about first year teachers spending hundreds of their own dollars setting up a classroom before they even receive their first paycheck. And then on top of all that, we have a teacher shortage crisis while districts are still cutting positions and slashing budgets. That contradiction makes no sense and yet it keeps happening. We cannot keep asking educators to do more with less and then act surprised when they leave.