If you have been following any of the news lately, especially surrounding the many budget cuts and tenure discussions, it is difficult to see your profession being thrown around as though it can be put to paper so easily. It is also difficult to see others who do not know the "real" work teachers do, bash the profession, and make teachers out to be lazy people who are taking advantage of the town or city they work in. I have worked in the private sector for half of my adult life. I know how hard it is to fight for promotions, reach targets, work collaboratively with others and gain your superiors recognition for a job well done. I chose to leave that world with over 5+ weeks of vacation, bonuses and recognition to become a teacher for almost $20,000.00 less a year in salary.
Why? I actually wonder some days, but I do know why. It was because of days like today when I returned after being out for the last day of the trimester and seeing all of my students left me notes all over my white board about how they will miss me and they love me! It is because they threw me a birthday party last week with cupcakes, cookies and juice for everyone in the class along with a card they all signed before they even came to class. It is because of the student who seems to be different than most, doesn't really fit in, becomes agitated easily, yet I never once saw that in him. I saw an engaged boy who was eager to learn new things using the technology I put before him. When I read over his website and saw the meticulous amount of work he put into that project, I could not help to be proud and emotional all at the same time. This was "his" venue! I could not help but gush to another one of his teachers about what an amazing job he did all on his own, with great care and pride. Never once did we have to have a confrontation. Never once did he become agitated. He was content. He knew he was coming to a safe, loving, and empowering environment where he mattered. It is because of the other boy who hides behind his long hair so no one will see through him. He does not want to be seen. Yet he writes on his website that someday he wants to be a doctor and he really does care about his grades. It is because of the kids, the ones who I may or may not make a difference in. The ones who were so happy to see me today. That is why I keep coming back. It is certainly not because of the "red tape" that comes along with teaching. It is the children.
The education system itself is not created like the private world. It does not always appreciate the one who speaks out for change and looks to make improvement. It seems as though that is why we (the education system itself) are in the predicament we are in today. The world is changing so quickly but education is stuck. The ones who are making the decisions are stuck. Why? Is it scary? Will things not work out 100% as planned? It is the same as teaching with technology. Everything is scary at first try. It doesn't even work sometimes. It is OK to fail, OK to make mistakes, and OK to be human. It is OK to admit that there were mistakes made. Why push good people away when all they want to do is make a difference in children's lives?
According to the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future, it is the cost of turnover that is the largest factor of why schools are not performing well. According to the executive summary of the research study done, "Low performing schools rarely close the student achievement gap because they never close the teaching quality gap – they are constantly rebuilding their staff. An
inordinate amount of their capital – both human and financial – is consumed by the
constant process of hiring and replacing beginning teachers who leave before they have
mastered the ability to create a successful learning culture for their students. "
Unraveling the teacher shortage trys to figure this out in this 17 page report.
"In general, the turnover rate among teachers is significantly higher than for other
occupations.1 The fact is, an alarming and unsustainable number of teachers are leaving
teaching during their first few years of teaching. The No Child Left Behind Act has
stimulated a national effort to find highly qualified teachers for every classroom. But no
teacher supply strategy will ever keep our classrooms staffed with quality teachers if we
do not reverse the debilitating rate of teacher attrition. We need to balance our efforts to
prepare high quality teachers with strong strategies to support good teaching in our
schools."
HOW CAN WE REDUCE HIGH TEACHER TURNOVER? (according to article above)
To fix the problem we need to understand the cause. Four major factors are
especially prominent influences on whether and when teachers leave specific schools or
the profession entirely:
· Salaries
· Working conditions
· Preparation
· Mentoring support in the early years of teaching
These are just a few items that would help to retain teachers. I would be more than happy to discuss any one of my days in a middle school with anyone would would like to talk!
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