Distance Learning: What is the Impact on Teachers? Part 2
“A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instill a love of learning” — Brad Henry
“A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops” — Henry Adams
I believe teaching is a calling. Just walk into the classroom of a master teacher and you will see that statement in action. Over the past few years several factors have made an already demanding profession leaving teachers feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, defeated and unappreciated. Several factors like low wages, increased duties and increased stress in general have driven thousands of teachers out of the profession. All of this was pre Covid, since the pandemic outbreak, an already demanding job has become unbearable for many teachers.
Here is message I received from a teacher I know. I am up ALL night thinking about my kids. I see their mental and emotional states crumbling. I know they are scared. I know families are scared but don’t have choices. Our days at school are spent cramming curriculum in, sanitizing, and living in fear we will spread the germs. We show this by having totally isolated classrooms. I have a student who cries all day because he is lonely at school. We are struggling to have students participate at home for 100 reasons. Could be internet issues, they are taking care of family, they are EL and don’t understand everything, overall overwhelm….and we are told to make our lessons more engaging. I’m failing as a teacher inside and out. I spend 12–15 hours a day, and weekends, working, trying to figure it all out. Then the rules change. So, hence the migraine today. I’m feeling the lack of inspiration from admin, lack of support, and total overall lack of morale in the building. NOT to place blame…..EVERYONE is over their heads. On the flip side, I have really started to love to incorporate some tech into my everyday routine. I also am really loving the minimalist nature of my classroom. Less paper/less clutter overall. Struggling with that flip side on how to accurately assess students. We’re jamming things at them in 2 days, and then we get sub par responses on line. Sigh…..no matter WHAT, we are losing. There isn’t much that is working right now to be honest. It’s even hard to establish relationships with kiddos because of the 6 ft and the lack of interactions. The masks make kids not want to speak. Then they are scared to even use the bathroom!!! The bonus of being at school is we are at school, but the fallout from it is really starting to show. (at least in my grade). I am at a loss of what to do. I am a very positive person, and I am currently sinking. Our school, in particular, faces so many challenges. Starting with being ground zero for numbers of covid. Then the high EL population, then the 6 months behind in school, then the weather (so we can’t have school or things outdoors), then our strict policies for covid (totally understandable, but do not make for good mental/emotional health), lack of relationship building because of ALL of it and lack of ‘real human interaction’ with children, as is necessary…..SIGH…….I could go on and on, but my head hurts.
The Bored Teachers Newsletter states, “A November survey of teachers by Horace Mann reveals that 27% of teachers are considering either quitting or taking a leave of absence because of the issues surrounding COVID-19. Those numbers are a huge increase over the traditional 8–9% attrition rates that education sees in a normal year. The main culprit here: safety. 59% of those surveyed said they don’t feel like their district’s safety and health protocols are enough.” Another alarming statistic I saw in several sources is 40%–50% of teachers leave the profession within the first 5 years. With the additional pressure of the pandemic, how is this important and honorable profession going to maintain teachers? How is an already stressed profession going to encourage people to go into the field? As a country we need to rally around teachers and find a way to make them feel valued and appreciated, as well as safe during this unprecedented time in history.
Join me for the second Learning For Life virtual summit, Achieving Students Best Outcomes: Different Paths to Success March 31st and April 1st. Please take a moment to click this link to sign up for your COMPLIMENTARY ticket to the summit. Can’t wait to see you there!
“Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.”
― Frederick Douglass
The joy is in the journey!
Blessings and Peace,
Mary
