Teachers in America

Time Magazine released an article online this morning regarding teachers in America.  The online headline reads 'I Work 3 Jobs And Donate Blood Plasma to Pay the Bills.'  This Is What It's Like to Be a Teacher in America.

The story is also the cover story for this week's magazine (Sept. 24, 2018, Vol. 192 No. 12).  The related cover to the online headline reads "I have a master's degree, 16 years of experience, work two extra jobs and donate plasma to pay the bills.  I'm a teacher in America."  The cover also carries other teacher's stories, with the following headlines:

• My child and I share a bed in a small apartment, I spend $1,000 on supplies and I've been laid off three times due to budget cuts.  I'm a teacher in America.
• I have 20 years of eperience, but I can't afford to fix my car, see a doctor for headaches or save for my child's future.  I'm a teacher in America.

The magazine also includes 13 stories on life on a teacher's salary.  Stories of worrying about not being able to afford a replacement vehicle if their current car breaks down, not being able to afford appropriate medicine for their children and family, worrying about affording a second child, about refusing to go to the doctor because the cost cannot be paid.  It's heartbreaking what people are going through to continue to pursue their passion to teach and mold our next generations.

We have a serious problem with education in America.  And teacher's are feeling the brunt of it.

According to the article, public-school teachers are experiencing the worst wage stagnation of any profession, earning less on average, in inflation-adjusted dollars, than they did in 1990.  The pay gap between teachers and other comparably educated professionals is now the largest on record.  Just in 1994, the gap was only 1.8% less per week than comparable workers.  The gap is now 18.7%.

Insurance rates for teachers continue to rise, with the teacher bearing more and more of the burden, the retirement age is increasing, and retirement benefits are being cut.

Nationwide, the estimated average public-school teacher's salary is now $58,950 according to the National Center for Education Statistics.  That however is a figure that varies widely with locale and does not always track with the costs of living.  That is also the average across all years of experience. For comparison, just two years ago, the average teacher's starting salary was $38,617 - 20% lower than that of other professions requiring a college degree.

Further, in twenty-nine states, spending per students is below Great Recession rates, leaving schools dilapidated, overcrowded, and reliant on outdated textbooks and threadbare supplies.

We have school districts across the country facing a hiring crisis.  In nearly any other field, such a crisis would be met with signing bonuses, free housing, tuition reimbursement, and other perks to draw people to the field.  Hiring shortages in teaching are met with increased class sizes, shortening school weeks, and emergency certifications for those not trained as educators.  

Because of this, the number of new educators completing preparatory programs fell by 23% between 2008 and 2016, according to the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education.  Further, teacher attrition is up.  At least 17% leave the profession in the first five years.

This is particularly felt in rural schools.  For example, the median beginning teacher salary for rural districts in Texas was $34,858 compared to the state's average starting salary of $45,507.  The turnover rate is likewise 19.2% in rural districts, up compared to the 16.5% state average.

In Texas especially, we have a vicious cycle resorting in less and less funding being available for public schools.  Education usually bears budget shortfalls, especially in Republican controlled state bodies.  So the state decides it is giving less to individual districts, who then generally raise property taxes to offset the loss (as local districts are generally funded through property taxes).  Then, because the district has raised more money, the state sends less the next year, and so on and so forth.  

Combine this cycle, with increasing dollars and attention being diverted to charter schools and private schools, ill-designed standards being implemented to line Pearson's pocket, and almost outwardly hostile legislatures and Department of Education, and its no wonder teacher's have had enough, with many noticeable strikes last year and more planned for the future.

We have to do better. 

At some point, we have to recognize the value of education.  We preach it all the time, especially now, with the almost 100% expectation that every person should go to college.  But we do not value fundamental, primary education through our actions and votes.  

I get that no one likes taxes, but when taxes are the primary way to fund our schools, it becomes important to vote for additional taxes at least some of the time.  I've seen several districts that desperately needed bond measures to pass in order to build/rehabilitate dilapidated facilities lose in the elections.  They cannot get the funds needed from the state and the people in their own community will not vote to support it.  So, what happens?  The status quo.  Teachers continue to improvise and make the best out of an increasingly bad situation and children continue to attend classes in a building that should have been brought up to code years ago.

Here in Texas, we have people continue to vote at the state level for people who have promised to gut public education.  For example, ask any teacher their thoughts on Lt. Governor Dan Patrick and you're likely to get an earful.  He has a horrible record regarding education (unless you want it privatized).  And yet he gets re-elected because he has that all important R next to his name.  There are even teachers who will vote for him and against their own interests because of the R.

We have to expect more of our public officials and we need to expect more of ourselves.

If you know a teacher personally, hug them.  Thank them for what they do.  For the long hours, for the lack of recognition, for the incredible ask that we are putting on them.  Ask them how you can help, even in some small way.

Until we can get larger changes made in the state and in the nation regarding how we properly value public education and compensate our teacher's accordingly, it's on all of us.

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Update - And now apparently TEA is requesting nearly $1.5 billion less from the state government, with the deficit to be made up in local property taxes.  You can't make this up.

In-Service

It's hard to believe and it seems to be moving up earlier and earlier, but Jamie starts in-service tomorrow.  That wonderful time of meetings and trainings getting ready for the new school year, starting in just a little over a week.  

To all teachers out there: may your meetings be brief and informative, may they focus only on the information you really need to know, may they be entertaining, may they be uplifting, and then may they get out of your way.

It's funny thinking about the word in-service.  That really seems to describe a teacher's life doesn't it.  They spend their lives in service.  Nominally in service to the district that has hired and pays them for a specific task.  Truly, in service to the students entrusted in their care, who need the knowledge only they can impart.  

First, I would like to say thank you for your life in service.  I know I am better for those who have taught me and I see that same impact in others.  I see the way Jamie can reach students, even those previously written off.  I hope each of you knows the impact that you have and hear it often.

Second, I lift up many prayers for you as this new year is starting.

I pray for physical, emotional, and spiritual strength to get through each and every day.  To face whatever new event is brought before you, both professionally and extracurricularly.

I pray the curriculum is able to still excite you.  That you are able to make new discoveries and new passions within your chosen field.

I pray you see each student with fresh eyes, with God's eyes, so that you can see what may be able to reach through to the previously unreachable one.  May you be that teacher.

I pray that each of you has a wonderful support system of friends and family encouraging you along the way.

I pray that each of you hears from former students regarding the positive impact you have had in their lives.  May you continue to receive the encouragement you need to keep it up.

I pray that you have parents that are supporting you and aiding you in the education of their children, not acting as obstacles or impediments.  

I pray you have plenty of time to get away, to unwind and recharge on a frequent basis throughout the year.  That you are able to invest in yourself, as well as others.

I pray for the support of your administration.  That they are able to go above and beyond to give you what is needed to make this year better than ever.

I pray for a change in the political climate of our state and nation, to stop being hostile to the public school system and to actively fight to improve each and every campus.  Not through new tests, standards, and regulations, but through abundant funding and support.

I pray for a change in the voting habits in our state and nation, so that candidates who continue to gut public school funding are voted out of office.

Most of all, I pray you know you are valued and appreciated.  That there are people praying for you and supporting you.  Most likely, more than you could ever realize.

I pray this is the start of a wonderful and meaningful year. 

You've got this.

Seasons of Love

This hits close to home.  It shows the power of teaching and the power of theater.

I do not know how many people watched the Tony's on Sunday.  One of Jamie's former students had the fortunate pleasure of getting to watch them live.  We were appropriately jealous.

During the award ceremony, the Tony's recognized Melody Herzfeld with the 2018 Excellence in Theater Education award.  Herzfeld is the theater teacher at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL.  During that horrific school shooting, Herzfeld hid 65 of her students in her office for two hours until authorities could lead them to safety. 

Since the shooting, she has had many students who have felt compelled to speak up and use their voices.  "Every piece of beautiful theater is truth and I think that when a child or a student that is 14 to 18 years old is given permission to tell their truth, they'll sing it from the top of the car and they'll sing it from the top of the roof."  She has further seen how the students she has worked with over the years have turned to art and music for therapy, to help them navigate through the tragedy.  And she was instrumental in encouraging her students Sawyer Garrity and Andrea Pena to finish their song "Shine," which has become an anthem for the response, performed at the CNN Town Hall meeting organized in response to the shooting and at the March for Our Lives Rally in Washington, D.C.  "They have to do service hours, they have to be philanthropic, they have to dedicate themselves to a cause.  This is what we do not in America.  So it was very natural for them to cling to this idea that we can be healed through the arts."

With the award, Herzfeld also receives $10,000 prize for her theater department and she was able to see her students receive a standing ovation for their performance at the ceremony.

On the recognition, Herzfeld stated "During a normal given time, I would say that I am truly humbled and grateful for this recognition for the work I have done, however the way that my students have taken to action through speech, performance and passionate honesty it now means so much more.  My work is being reflected through my students, as it is every day with every arts teacher around the world."

The theater students chose "Seasons of Love" from the musical Rent for their performance at the ceremony.  The song is a perfect choice for our current times, as it is an anthem of love from a musical about resilience.  Five hundred, twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes.  That's all we have.  The number sounds huge, but they fly by more quickly than we could ever imagine.

Why not fill them with love.

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Watch the students' performance here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srkj63VBSHM

And watch Melody Herzfeld's acceptance speech here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=13&v=oO6rs9H3soI

Bring tissues.

Teacher Appreciation

Today is the close of teacher appreciation week.  I hope they have been truly shown how much they are valued this week.   By their students, the parents, other teachers, and administration.

Hopefully everyone has a teacher that they can thank in their life for inspiring or motivating them.  Recognizing the impact teachers have on the lives around them.

I feel blessed to have had so many wonderful teachers throughout my lifetime, at all levels.  There really are too many to mention here in any meaningful way.  I'm proud to have so many teachers that I would consider family and I'm proud to have teachers that I call friends.

I'm especially proud of the teacher that I married.

I see what she goes through.  I know the hours that she puts in.  She has a coach's hours, with very little off-season between the two shows.  Plus, she has the six class periods (four different, but related classes) that she has to be on top of.  And she manages a summer travel opportunity for students.

I know the hours she puts in during the summer to prepare for the start of school and the new production.  And the research that goes into show selection.

I know how she cares for her students.  They are her kids and I know that every year, our adopted family grows as the kids move through the high school.  Especially for those students who are in the shows.  If you are in a production, you are one of her kids.  She celebrates when you do and she hurts when you do.  Like good families, they can have their dysfunctions and disagreements, but the members are better for their time together.

I know the push and pull she goes through to balance her work with her students and the school and with home.  I hope she knows how well she is succeeding.

She is passionate and determined.  Imaginative and fierce.  She thinks I'm the one with more patience, but I remind her that she is the one that is surrounded by high schoolers all day and does not throttle them.

I hope she has been reminded over and over again how much she is appreciated.

The hours go way beyond whatever you imagine a regular school day is.  The pay is far too low for what we ask of them.  They cobble things together from duct-tape and bailing wire to make sure they have what they need for the class.  And they succeed in spite of the ridiculous tests that we ask them to prepare students for.

They do it because it is a calling.  Because they know that they have the potential to reach someone.  To make someone else's life better.

So go hug a teacher. Go shake their hand.  If one of them truly made a difference in your life, please let them know.  You cannot imagine how much it means to them.

And for my part,

We notice.  We thank you.  How can we help?

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And Gorgeous, if I say I love you more here, it counts right?