I don’t care what you say, teachers are superheroes.
Why are teachers superheroes?
In one school year, teachers provide an environment where students learn so much more than just reading, writing and math. Students learn about themselves, peer and adult interactions, and so much more about where they fit in the world. Teachers help students navigate social situations, emotional issues, trauma, and also academics. The classroom becomes a place that students feel safe and confident enough to risk embarrassment while they learn and grow.
This is on top of teaching, testing, managing behaviors, collecting data, serving on data chat and other teams, as well as planning, implementing, and often creating their own resources for students.
Over the last few decades, teachers have taken a beating every year from many sides. This is because of the frustration our society feels at what we view as student under-performance.
Decades ago, a report stated that US school systems were under-performing compared to other countries. And, teachers have taken the brunt of the blame for this. They take this criticism despite the fact that teachers are superheroes doing impossible things daily.
Now, after years of teaching through a pandemic, many teachers are leaving the profession. So few are entering that we are faced with a critical teacher shortage. There weren’t enough teachers before. Soon there will not be enough to keep the system afloat if we don’t do something to change things.
The basis for most teacher complaints is lack of respect.
Teachers don’t feel respected in their profession. They have been willing to deal with low pay and absolutely unsustainable work expectations because we “do it for the kids”.
But when a teacher looks around and sees that what they are doing isn’t appreciated, and every single day they are beat down more and more…THAT is when you hear teachers say “They don’t pay me enough for this” and they leave.
What do I mean when I say that our teachers are not respected?
Teacher’s are not treated with respect as professionals. They are not treated with respect as adults. Teacher’s are not treated with respect as human beings….want an example of that? When was the last time you had to radio a building of adults begging for someone to come give you a break to use the restroom and you were told someone would be there in 30-45 minutes?
Teachers are superheroes because they make the impossible happen daily. They deserve to be supported so that they can continue to grow and enrich our future.