How Do You Hang In There When Faced With Overwhelming Odds

By Larry Statler

California education has just been slapped with debilitating cuts due to a 14 billion dollar deficit.  As you might expect, special education has been spotlighted as one of the major problems because huge portions of the general fund are being diverted to pay for under-funded special education services. 

Visual and performing arts are already decimated and class size reduction will probably become a thing of the past.  Silicon Valley businesses are clamoring for a highly trained work force well versed in math and science while teachers are instructed to forego these subjects and concentrate on reading.  The high school graduation rate is plummeting and newspapers are demanding to know why even though graduation requirements and exit tests have shut out any hope of graduating for many of our students.  Our newer teachers are leaving the area in droves because of the extremely high cost of living and low starting salaries.  Compound this with ever increasing credentialing demands and the road to becoming and remaining a teacher are perilous to say the least.

Although every state and every district may be faced with somewhat different problems, I am sure the feeling of being overwhelmed is pervasive for new and experienced teachers alike.  How to cope with all of this might be a good topic for discussion.

Comments

[Pam Dummitt]

Peg,
Are you by chance related to the late Ada Snyder of Muncie, IN and her sister, Esther? I ask because she was dear to me growing up there in the '50's. I lived around the block and the memory of her smile still lights up my spirit.
I know she prayed for me.
All I could remember was she had a niece named Peggy and a nephew named Jimmy that visited summers from Cambridge, MA. I met them a couple of times. I apologize if you are not the person I am looking for. If you are her relative, would you consider connecting sometime via email or phone? I would like to eventually obtain a photo of her. Thanks, and good luck with your plight as a teacher.

[Jeff Fisher]

My company Gold Choice Tutors (www.goldchoicetutors.com) offers professional tutoring services to students, including those with Special Needs. We are actively searching for more special needs teachers to work with our students. We cover from elementary grades through University. Anyone interested in private tutoring service for their son or daughter, or teachers that are interested in become tutors with us, please email me at jfisher@goldchoicetutors
.com. Thank you,
Jeff

[Larry Statler]

Your story is scary when you considered that our plights are the same and we are on opposite sides of the country. Actually, I have heard the same concerns expressed at conference in every region of the US. I too just want to be able to do what I love to do. I am nearing the retirement end of the career spectrum and know I will make it. My concern is and my heart goes out to my younger colleagues who are often in tears from the frustration. I'm worried that long teaching careers are going to become a thing of the past. What a terrible shame for teachers and students alike.

[Peg Bidlingmeyer]

We are faced with a similar situation in MI. Jobs are disappearing as schools cut back because of lack of funding.

We are working without a contract and dealing with a schoolboard and superintendent who have no clue. We are going to spend millions revamping the schools when our real problems are lack of time to teach, tremendously poor student behavior, and out of sight student absenteeism. You simply can't teach students who aren't there! These problems are not being addressed at all.

With more paperwork and testing all the time cutting into teaching time, and the fact that our board and "fearless leader" are not hesitant about stating, in the press, on TV, and at meetings that it is the teacher's fault that we are not making AYP, teacher frustration is at an all time high and we're all depressed.

Our students are suffering in these situations which is just intolerable. We are told again and again that, since our students are failing, it is our fault for not having high expectations. The remedy for that apparently is teaching already failing students more rigorous material at a faster rate, and testing them twice as much----because that shows that we have high expectations and now our students will thrive.

It is do more with less all the time. Because of increased standardized testing due to NCLB and failing students we have more and more paperwork, days out for the actual testing (about 3-4 days per month) and hours spent as a staff analyzing data and coming up with plans.

We are overworked, underappreciated, and trying desparately to help our inner city students but feel that we are being blocked at every turn.

It has been suggested that those of us who are unhappy with the situation should leave but if we all do that--what incentive will there be to make things right for our community and our kids?

My job is tough but when I am in my classroom with my students, I love working with them. This is what I have studied and worked for for so many years. I don't want to quit. I want things fixed so I can teach!