Lack of Interventions and Gaslighting of Educators
- I am a paraprofessional right now and I am almost done renewing my teaching certificate. One of my biggest concerns with going back into the classroom as a teacher is the lack of intervention provided to students at the right time. Too many decisions regarding this are made reactively instead of proactively. If a district cannot service ALL kids who need intervention, then there is a breakdown in the system itself further upstream. It is alarming to me the number of students who are in need of intervention and are not getting it…..or not getting it early enough when it’s been statically proven to be most beneficial.
- The gaslighting of educators and the shame we get if we set healthy boundaries. People above have said that they are fed up of educators doing it for themselves rather than the kids. Honestly, with all that is going on we too are under a great deal of stress because the pandemic, we are not going to be completely at our best, we barely make enough to afford mental health services ourselves, yet we are expected to put on a mask and work hours and hours for free with really little benefit because we get burned out then don’t have much left to really be there for kids.
- Micromanaging to the point where teachers don’t feel they are able to make a difference, which is why most of us entered the profession to begin with. Also, exhaustion. It was an exhausting career before COVID, and the changes that came in with COVID have made it more exhausting. As we enter year three, what we thought was a sprint has become a marathon with no end in sight. Plus, since so many educators are leaving the field, anyone is being hired, so the quality of the administration you are working under and the teachers you are working with has deteriorated, making our job even harder.
- I feel like “research-based” is used selectively to fit certain agendas, while research-based strategies for some relief of the mental load are ignored. SEL is an empty promise buzzword that is being toted instead of promoting authentic interaction. Special education is among the most jerked around of teachers, It’s my opinion that they should be compensated and categorized as specialists as opposed to teachers. The constant fear teachers live under because we are expected to support and adhere to things and people that we do not agree with.
- I want to leave because it seems that all the correct things are said to me but nothing actually changes- no new curriculum to roll out always turns into here use this new kit it will fix everything. I also think that little kids have too much academic pressure put on them. As a result of that I feel that I am contributing to the poor mental health of these future young people. Lastly, when I ask for help it always always winds up being more work for me. I am on my own with no voice doing something I don’t believe in.
Did you notice any themes?
