Teachers are leaving one after another. Those responsible for educating our nation's youth are neglected, fed up, and overwhelmed.
Our standards drop. Without enough talent, we lose our competitive advantage in the global economy. What will this country look like 10 or 20 years from now? A mediocre education that puts students second will have ugly consequences.
PIC
I know who is not at fault. teachers. They have the honorable task of raising an entire generation and are therefore rarely respected.
In fact, everyone is to blame. From local governments to board members, parents to parliament, we have all played our part in letting teachers down. Now they are out of the profession and the students are going to suffer.
Teachers are notoriously underpaid for the services they provide. In fact, weekly wages have remained relatively stable over the past 25 years. Many people have to work two or three jobs to make a living. Some resort to selling plasma, while others avoid going to the doctor. We expect them to become very willing to work to meet the growing needs of the nation, and we cannot pay them for that.
The battle against public education in the United States has become increasingly hostile and bitter. Many state legislatures have attacked teachers' unions head-on, seeking to abolish pensions and roll back collective bargaining rights. Public funds were diverted to run private charter schools. George H.W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump have all criticized public education. The aftermath of these long-running wars forced teachers out through the terrifying double doors.
Polarization, fueled by political hyperbole, is exacerbating the crisis. The United States grapples with a situation so deeply divided by culture and race that teachers have to deal with any backlash. Covid has seen reports of increased parental harassment and feedback on policies related to race, racism, or prejudice.
This problem seems to be a double-edged sword. Fake anger has different colors depending on who you are talking to. The guardian attends a board meeting for the first time in her life and complains. School districts across the country explicitly prohibit or limit what can and cannot be taught in the classroom.
Children are actually smarter than adults. They are better at filtering information than adults and enjoy intelligent conversations. The more controversial the topic, the more interesting the lesson. How else do you learn critical thinking and discussion skills?