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It is worrying. I know systems have the ability to stay strong and stay the course, but it scares me that public education is doomed. I am a product of a system that took me awhile I was and helped me become the man and teacher I am today. I was an immigrant who couldn't speak the language. I had issues at home and had a system of teachers and friends who supported me when I didn't have the words to voice my concerns and fears. I have been in this game for 24 years and I believe in it, even if it has flaws and even when I am flawed. We do what we can to help the students who are us as their support system. I need to be here even when I fellow and defeated or supported by the politicians, grumpy teachers, worried parents, and this teaching community.
We just need to stick together in these tough times. There are shortages every where. And it's likely to get worse before it gets better. I am thankful for my union, they work so hard for us. We experience an abundance of complications with substitutes as well. They are always pulling our intervention teachers to cover classes for those who can't make it, due to illness. Prayers for all in this difficult 🙏time.
Well, our union is not doing a damn thing for us. So, you guys are very fortunate to have a supportive union.
Pro
Nobody can keep schools staffed. Now is the time to strike for higher wages.
Chief
https://news.yahoo.com/districts-across-u-offering-big-111500090.html
This probably wouldn’t be as heinous if teachers were paid like the professionals we are, instead of being treated with malice and like glorified babysitters. It’s not going to get better until working conditions, expectations, and wages improve
Rising Star
Just imagine the level of Stockholm Syndrome that would bring someone who at least claims to be WORKING AS A TEACHER to opine that teachers aren't professionals.
School is changing dramatically right now. Education in the 2030s is being shaped directly from these circumstances. I think it’s the effective death of public education. There hasn’t been a more attractive time to consider alternatives in the private sector, and it’s only going to progress further in this direction.
Rising Star
I believe it will continue to transform rather than completely collapse (note how Google caught us in their net- so to speak- when schools shut down Spring 2020) . It may continue to be a rough ride!
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It’s bad, I’m starting to look for a virtual teaching job. It would be nice to hit the lottery and walk away from teaching until this pandemic is under control.
We are short in ALL areas. Teachers are helping to cover during our preps, our admin staff has driven buses, helped serve lunch etc…It is exhausting. I feel fortunate to be in a district where admin isn’t afraid to jump in when/where needed.
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I’m out on medical leave because I am autistic and all of the change and instability has caused me to have a complete breakdown. I now have to go to my psychiatrist and discuss changing my medication, go to a neuro psych for them to scan my brain and retest me through everything, and see a therapist now. I don’t even know if I’m going to be paid yet or how long I’ll need to be out heck or if I am capable of even going back at all. I’m desperately trying to find an online teaching job. I am a very delicate machine, I have been subjected to rough treatment, and I am now broken and out for repairs. I have been in education for 13 years and I have never experienced anything like this.
So sorry to hear… my anxiety is through the roof being back in the classroom. My daughter and I are severely immune compromised and my worst fear is bringing covid home to her…
I substituted in three classes this week. I am certain the students have a newfound appreciation for their own teachers. 😉
We have teachers leaving every day. It’s killing me. 😭
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Omg, that’s so sad. I’m sorry to hear that.
School districts: “We need more mandates/requirements for employment during these hard/uncertain times. Let’s use new budget toward new programs and disable the old ones.” Teachers/Parents:
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Wait til they try to mandate vaccines.
Rising Star
Thanks for making my point and answering all my questions. I hope you someday become the higher form of life you are sadly attempting to emulate. Of all the forms of intelligence you could have worked toward, you chose to tweet like Trump.
Yep, it’s sad when one is reluctant to take a day “off” due to a lack of subs, yet when one does go to work, he/she gets to cover other classes or combine classes.
Chief
Lack of subs is a nightmare. Teachers are currently covering for other teachers, and we’re running out of people with a prep to make it work. They redid the bus routes to cover driver shortages, and that seems to be working. So while it’s bad, it’s not as bad as it could be. But support staff... I think support staff has been hardest hit. We usually have about 6 custodians to clean the high school at night. That was down to 3 at the start of this year. It’s now down to 2. One passed away from CoVid complications earlier this week. The sports teams and clubs are now taking turns running around the high school after the final bell collecting garbage and trash cans. They’re doing a great job and the community is rallying together. But the cost for that togetherness is sobering.
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Yep. We have to do the work of custodians or have the kids do the work. I thought I left that behind in Head Start. Nope….
Very few subs available. One district near me is now paying bus drivers $30 per hour, and another is paying subs $198 per day…
I'd take that sub gig! :D WOW
In MA they called up the national guard last week to be bus drivers… what a nightmare!
Same thing in Philadelphia!!
Out of 8000 students, 1500 do not have busing. We are 30 paras short in special education. Substitutes haven’t affected us much, yet. We are only 8 days into our year and we cannot take off the first five days.
We have no Paras. None. My school needs to hire 4 or 5 and they for some reason didn't do it before school started. Admin has been pulling specialists to help but it's not enough.
Rising Star
We are all subbing for other teachers at least twice a week & now we are actually vacuuming our own rooms… it’s THAT bad.
New Member
This is also happening in rural Colorado! I’m so burnt out!
New Member
Honestly, this staffing issue could be a relatively easy fix in places like New Jersey. These school districts should partner with universities to use students who are in their last or second to last year of an education degree. This will provide the school with people who are practicing teaching. This would allow many of the college students who are working for free to build experience and an opportunity to get paid. I want someone to tell me how having a 3rd-year student, in a teacher program, is a bad candidate for subbing or being an aide. We would have a far better quality of sub and support staff. We would also have future teachers who are more prepared for their jobs upon graduation. I wonder if I am missing something in my plan.