(Surprising!) Reasons Teachers are Quitting Their Jobs in 2022

Teachers are quitting and retiring at rates that are not sustainable. I was a teacher for 18 years, and I was one of those who quit last year.
These are some reasons why.
Want to support me? I appreciate it! www.buymeacoffee.com/jerredz
Research:
www.eschoolnews.com/2019/11/1...
www.brookings.edu/research/cl...
www.vox.com/identities/2018/4...
www.edweek.org/leadership/opi...
www.nytimes.com/2018/03/18/us...
www.businessinsider.com/black...
Need some support? I'll do what I can: [e-mail]

[@ladybug5556]

You hit the nail on the head. “Teachers are voiceless and living in a culture of fear”

[@MsElke11]

Just like our commie unions want us. I bet a MAGA teacher would get fired asap nowadays.

[@xorkoth882]

GOOD!!!! At the end of the day, teachers are nothing more than glorified public servants and pseudo-authority figures

[@shadowbannedaccont9479]

Never allow fear in your life. God gave use a sprite of courage not fear. An never ever make a choice out of fear.

[@miketeacher9016]

@@shadowbannedaccont9479 The administrators like keeping you in a spirit of fear and degradation so you can feel dependent on them. Shameless!

[@user-zc4sx9ig6p]

@@shadowbannedaccont9479 Americans don't like religion I guess

[@barbarabrown5517]

Anyone who has not taught has no idea what we deal with every day! Walk a mile in our shoes before throwing stones! God bless all teachers.

[@mariamiller1435]

As a former teacher, it always amazed me when people seemed to think they knew everything about the intricacies of my job. I would never presume to know the intricacies of someone else’s profession unless I had actually done the work. There’s always a plethora of things that go on behind the scenes.

[@languay1]

Ditto!

[@c.garcia2363]

Sadly, that plethora, albeit the epicenter of it all, NEVER garners ANY attention. Bone marrow doesn't either, and it is the conduit of life.

[@synfiguring]

Two plethoras, at least🎉

[@donjaksa4071]

Hmmm, same robotic reply to each of these I quit threads?

[@astitchformom]

An administrator of mine asked my team what we thought was so challenging about last school year. I spoke up and said that it's the constant changing of expectations and constantly putting more on our plates without taking anything off. She then gaslite me and told me that expectations have actually gotten less in the past 6 years 🙃

[@bellyfulochelly4222]

Hahaha they're so full of it. They will never acknowledge the reality of the situation.

[@cc1k435]

I have that going on right now too, and I also have feeling that the support staff they are relying on far, far too heavily in these troubled times is about to walk out, along with half the certified staff. This is at an award winning school, yet. Oops!

[@joes4990]

work hard. you have it better than most.

[@jjc6530]

They are paid to say that. It’s job security, so there’s things she can manage and pick on teachers for not doing. A lot of task admin ask teachers to do are actually nonsense task that are not necessary needed to be done for student success. It’s created so admin has a purpose and job. See if her salary was minimum wage. She wouldn’t be saying that but the opposite.

[@jenniferg.9472]

We have an extreme teacher shortage and teachers quitting left and right. Still, they put new expectations in place. Also, when you do what they ask, they change what they ask for in the very next observation cycle. Even when you get it right, they change it.

[@joewestwood7505]

"Teachers give, give, and give, and eventually that giving has a cost". Perfectly articulated.

[@tru3sk1ll]

You go to work to make money not friends, you certainly don't go to work to parent someone elses kids. Not to be too crass about it but you are there to get paid and that's it, do just enough not to get fired and you'll be fine, 1/10 of one year of these kids lives is meaningless, kudos for trying to improve it, but most of these kids are lifetime welfare recipients that will most likely play the knockout game with every white person they see

[@rc6184]

The behavior problems are out of control period! Administrators do not care, they send them back to your room. Administrators do not enforce discipline. This is my 10th and final year as a teacher.

[@davidmason4244]

Some times they dont enforce anything, and other times they go way to far. For example I got ISS for a day because of a drawing.

[@jett3332]

The system needs reform. Be a part of the solution when the tide changes. Listen to the Holy Spirit if you will.

[@cc1k435]

@@davidmason4244 Depends on the drawing. If it wasn't anything inappropriate for a school environment, just ill-timed to be doodling, that's one thing. But if a student is, for example, drawing harassing or threatening pictures of other students or staff, ISS is the least that should happen.

[@tammymoulton7588]

Behavior problems in the classroom are absolutely out of control. Thank you for speaking up.

[@dralbertpakin8895]

My last school had no consequences for their students actions. That's the main problem.

[@joseluisherreralepron9987]

A friend of mine who was/is a teacher (I'm retired now with pension) used to say: "The farther in education you get from the children the more money you make and suddenly you suffer from amnesia"

[@JerredZ]

Oh man. Holy cow is this accurate!

[@deborahmontgomery7881]

I love how schools say “we are evidence based” but they stick 30 kids in a class, and the children do not get adequate breaks or outside time. They use all these methods for everything from math/reading to “good things“ and bell work. The second you have an idea that doesn’t follow their prescribed method, then you’re ostracized and told that your actions are “hurting the students “ Try and stick up for the needs of your kids and they will find a way to bully you til you leave or are complacent.

[@linkedup7346]

Sad but true. I had a principal say at a faculty meeting that if she hears anyone complaining or anyone tells her you were complaining, you won't be there for long. It's hard to smile when you are fighting a frown. Just because you have your heart in the right place isn't enough proof for administrators.

[@BiologyBabe]

Charter schools. They are so much more flexible and the one I’m at is evidence based. They recognize that not everyone learns the same way, and so the test scores are the measure. There’s less support too, so i don’t recommend it for new teachers, but if you like the job, can afford the $million pay cut, and know what you’re doing, it’s the way to go. But just on average you’ll make 10-15k less than in a PS. Mine even allows for criticism of administration, AND the board sends out an anonymous survey if the principal to all the teachers. Man I love my job.

[@linkedup7346]

very good set up I'm sure...

[@rhbruning]

"evidence based” is a NWO/WHO invented term and tactic. It does not describe "based on evidence." Here, evidence is conflated with policy - It means "policy-based," and is equivalent to "politically correct."

[@l.romans4861]

I resigned last week. After only 4 years in the classroom. I have such a heavy heart but I cannot go on like this. Everything you said is the truth.

[@JerredZ]

I'm sorry you faced some of these same issues - but good luck in whatever you do!

[@brennalill9093]

This is my 4th year as well - I feel you!! Best of luck on all future endeavors

[@sanashaukat5120]

I worked only 6 months and ran as fast as I could, got my IT degree and earn way more. But I was privileged in a way since I lived with my parents and they had my back through that rough 6 months! Never want to go back there!!

[@curtsjourney]

@@sanashaukat5120 Are you doing IT in a school district (educational technology) or somewhere else?

[@hrhtreeoflife4815]

@@sanashaukat5120 now imagine if you HAD to stay and do it as a 30 year career. To get that sweet sweet RETIREMENT benefit.

[@Chi_xxx]

I was a teacher in Europe, but I’m from Chicago. The kids would physically hurt me (kicking, etc) and I’d get blamed for that behavior. Fired for not being ‘entertaining’ enough. Then I got blamed for abusing kids in another school which I took the school to court, and won.. i would never. I always felt degraded 😒 I thought teaching would be fun but it’s the worst job ever and left me in a therapist office

[@Dr.Sharron]

Your story sounds common.

[@quintonmillett5149]

In. Europe???

[@RebekahAPinto]

Good for you that you sued your workplace & won.

[@georgina4874]

Switch to Adult Basic Ed. 💕💕

[@myke5696]

In Europe? I thought the kids in many European countries are better behaved - you must have been in a bad region.

[@0434REEDER]

I teach in Primary at a Montessori School and the behavior of the children and lack of support from parents and the lack of parenting has lead me to leave teaching. I had a 4 year old tell me he was tired of me directing him and when I responded that is part of my responsibility as a teacher and he responded teaching is not being so bossy. Now that is just one example there are so many more of arguing, yelling at me and so on and this is from 3 to 5 year olds I just can’t imagine what is going on with older children. I am just done it is so insane what is happening with children, parents, administrators. It’s scary what is happening. Thank you for being a voice for the teacher’s.

[@rue-for-you-music]

I teach college and the 18-26 year olds are behaving in exactly the same immature manner. Out of a class of 25 I have 2 responsible adults. The rest refuse to do any work and hurl insults at me when they do not get their way.

[@_gold_eye_2656]

Older children aren’t that bad we just turn classrooms to environments for comedic satire of our personal fuckery because humor is the greatest pain killer. Disrespectful behavior rarely happens but we sure as hell love to mess around instead of work. Mostly high schoolers who do this. My school may just be different from yours.

[@rebeccat9389]

So those are children who were 1 to 3 when the pandemic started. Some of them have had really rough times in very formative years. A 15 year old has almost a decade of school under there belt. I don’t think it’s that weird that 4 year olds are acting like 2 year olds. They’re delayed and for good reason. I’m sorry it’s so hard for you but it’s not necessarily anyones fault but the gigantic disaster we just lived through.

[@kylekullin2520]

Do you like Tom Petty?

[@kylekullin2520]

@@rue-for-you-music Do you like Cary Grant?

[@w.k.astrolabe280]

My first year teaching, I asked my department chair if I could get some advice about classroom management. This was within the first two weeks of school. She yelled at me and I cried in the bathroom. This was 2018-2019 and 2021-2022 was my last year teaching. Edit: This was a high school in which I had a class of 40. We literally didn't have enough chairs for students.

[@miketeacher9016]

She yelled at you? How could a department head do something like this? She yelled at you for what reason? You were not supposed to ask her anything about her expectations of you? Teaching is in crisis!

[@euphemiat7735]

@WK Astrolabe The administrator yelled at you because she had no answers, so to cover, pulled rank and tried to make you feel incompetent for asking. The fastest way to make an administrator who has lots of helpful, “ works in theory” behavior management tips run away is to say how helpful it would be if he or she would model it for you in an actual classroom.

[@josephcoon5809]

@@euphemiat7735 Good job pointing the finger at the administrator. Got any more detail on how this model would look? This is typical of armchair quarterbacks: wave a magic wand while providing sparse and vague explanations…

[@eugeneaniar7232]

You should've reported her to the admin... no one has the right to yell at someone regardless of their ranks.

[@josephcoon5809]

@@eugeneaniar7232 If being yelled at is a problem for you, teaching isn’t the profession for you anyways.

[@stevenjoyner4387]

I was a Georgia public school teacher. One thing that I learned right away was that if you are there to teach, you're in the wrong place. If you don't give a shit, teaching is for you. That's the way it is.

[@marcmeinzer8859]

Exactly. Teaching is mostly done by people who are faking it. It doesn’t even occur to these people that things could or should be done differently. For one thing, the lecture method model of the teacher as a herder of intellectual worms is ridiculous because you can’t really learn anything for anyone else. A more tutorial approach needs to be adopted where most school employees are tutors and not lecturers. Also, the kids should have recreational reading undisturbed by menacing disciplinarians and all assigned reading in general should be done in the library in a tranquil setting and not sent home. People who disturb the peace need to be rooted out and placed in therapy instead of fake schooling where everyone is just pretending to go through the motions.

[@virginiaoflaherty2983]

So true. The happiest teachers don't give a single f##k. Across the hall, shopping on line. One of my relatives teaches in GA. She had her wrist -broken - by a darlin' 5th grader.

[@cynthiagonzalez658]

Fuq I should have known.

[@Teal_Seal]

I was constantly frustrated, at odds with my administration. My stress vanished when I instead thought of myself as an actor in the role of a teacher. Finished my contract, out of there!

[@jeffs7915]

If you decide to offer a course on not giving a fuck, I'll sign up for it.

[@nikoknightpuppetproduction369]

Some teachers do not quit because they do not have another alternative to make an income. Unemployment is scary for those who have bills and high expenses.

[@bullard73]

You hit the nail on the head! I have 24 years and I want to quit but can't afford to

[@nikoknightpuppetproduction369]

@@bullard73 it is like not being able to get out of an abusive relationship.

[@Calicapenergy88]

@@nikoknightpuppetproduction369 this is a real good comparison. I’m not a teacher but work in public safety ( probation officer) and the same happens there

[@nikoknightpuppetproduction369]

@@Calicapenergy88 it is sad that many people have to live that way.

[@marcmeinzer8859]

It’s all right to continue teaching if you find it tolerable but unfortunately the job has become unbearable for many. I taught in the Cleveland ghetto where you were expected to break up fights amongst the kids continually. It’s not worth it.

[@jeffstirl2670]

I'm currently in my 22nd year in education. I left one school a few years ago due to the disrespect I was getting from students and was getting little support from my admins. I thought I was done with education after that year. However, I couldn't get any offers for a job interview. So, I saw that one of the local districts was having a job fair. I went and was pretty much hired on the spot. I'm happy to say that I am currently working in a fantastic district with great administrators, parents, staff, etc. 🙂

[@PH-ih1pn]

Great outcome. Sometimes walking away is all you can do.

[@bengallup9321]

Glad you were able to stay in teaching but in a more healthy environment.

[@cc1k435]

It is absolutely worth leaving to follow a good administrator, no question. I am learning that lesson even now. 😕

[@miketexas4549]

180 days per year of work, done everyday at 3 - it's actually a really good deal just have to find the right people to work with.

[@SheldonHill]

That’s my fear. No idea what else to do. Or where to even look.

[@TheWhiskeyRomance]

Good for you! I am finishing out the year, but after that I am done. The number and level of behavior disorders is truly overwhelming. Even in the 90s kids with totally unacceptable behavior got put on the short bus and taken to a facility that met their unique needs. Now because of ‘inclusion’ we are stuck dealing with issues we are not trained to deal with while trying to serve the rest of the class that does not have special needs. What I deal with on a daily basis is so above my pay grade.

[@GeradMunsch]

I was one of those students back in the 1990's who had a lot of behavior issues in school. All in all, the public school system absolutely and spectacularly failed me. For background, I was born in 1988. As a young child, I was diagnosed with ADHD and Asperger's Syndrome (sometimes called "high-fuctioning autism" these days, which I don't find accurate, but I digress) and have an IQ of 141. I was reading and doing math at a 6th grade level (I maxed out on the state assessment tests) when I entered kindergarten. I did have an IEP, but it ended up moreso being used against my interests than for my benefit. I was never academically challenged at an appropriate level, despite attending a K-6 school (my son, 2nd grade, is at a K-4 school, having similar issues) that was touted to be the "best for students with special needs" in the district. By 5th/6th grade, I had become absolutely out of control. In 6th grade, I had a teacher who not only didn't attempt to work with me, she would intentionally push buttons. That ended up with me cussing her out, leaving the school through the front doors. She followed me to the front door, continuing to badger me the whole way out. It ended up with me throwing a brick through the front window of the school and my expulsion. I was subsequently sent to an alternative education program, which was comprised of students who made up the "criminal element" of the district, and who were largely about as smart as the brick I threw through that window. I ended up finding one nice teacher there, who let me work in the computer lab all day. For 7th grade, I moved to my father's house (and a different district). By high school (10th grade) it was the same shit again. I was just doing what I needed to do to pass classes with C-level grades. Didn't do homework or classwork, but aced tests. That worked until about halfway thru my senior year, when I was placed into a full-year chemistry class where I had a very inflexible teacher who used weighted grades (she made 50% of the entire grade exclusively homework) and there was no way I would pass the class (as I just wanted to do the bare minimum, as it was mind-numbingly boring to have to sit through the classes without interest or challenge). I still had an IEP and special ed teachers, as well as a guidance counselor. I had also taken my SATs (early 2007, got a 1490 -- 790 on math, 500 on reading/writing). Only needing ½ of a credit in science for graduation, I requested to change one of my 2nd semester electives to a generic special ed science class for the ½ credit at the recommendation of the guidance counselor and special ed team. The assistant principal of the school apparently had a grudge against me, as she overrode the recommendations of all involved, and told me "No, I'm not going to allow you to do that. It's not fair to the *other students* that you can come to school, put in minimal effort, do no homework, and pass. I'm going to make sure you fail and you will have to attend summer school with those students who actually tried their hardest." So at that point, I just said "fuck it" and stopped attending school. I had a part time job, I went full time immediately. Never graduated. Never got a GED. Though in the few years after high school ended, I got into some bad habits (girls and drugs) and had a rough couple of years, I have since settled down, have 3 kids (11, 8, and 1) and am currently a stay-at-home dad. I had also had a lot of success working as a contractor in the IT industry, making $40,000-50,000 a year for several years. I worry greatly that the system is failing my 8 year old son, as I see him experiencing many of the same issues I did. My wife and I try to work with the school and the teachers the best we can (ie: if he gets less than an 80% for behavior at school, he loses his phone and switch for the day) and we make sure he does his homework every day (moreso my wife, I think his homework is pointless and understand why he doesn't want to do it. It's literally the same format "read this passage and write down some facts" and basic addition/subtraction worksheets every day). I'm considering home schooling him next year, and just letting him choose most of the curriculum. I think he'd get a lot more out of learning with me, doing real world things; I want to teach him proficiency with actual computer usage (not just browsing the web on a Chromebook), teach him all the technical details behind amateur radio (so he can test and get a license), and perhaps start teaching him some entry level computer programming (things like Python, Arduino, web design). He's in a similar boat in regards to grade level proficiency, he's doing 6th grade(+) math (multiplying decimals, division, exponents, fractions, basic algebra) and slightly behind on reading, writing and speech (though ending pre-K & starting K in remote learning didn't help, nor did wearing face masks for 2.5 years; I also think the way reading is taught in schools today is fundamentally flawed, my wife and I try teaching him phonetic reading and I have no idea what the school is doing but it's not phonics).

[@alexa3322]

Inclusion hasn’t worked!

[@Odinarcade00]

That’s not the type of inclusion people usually refer to. But I can see that maybe someone got confused on what inclusion in the classroom means. Or maybe they cut the budget for special education

[@katydid5088]

Inclusion is generally the known fact that kids that score lower intellectually who are placed with upper level students or otherwise end up being taught by those kids to do better. Sometimes you get a meeting of minds despite the fact that one child is special needs, which means they get up the gumption to care/find an educational method, interest or style that works for them. That is the theory of why we allow special needs kids and others into the classroom. Add to that the (DR) Disability Rights Lobby, that rightly points out that just because some kids are challenged shouldn't mean they are excluded, the secondary reality NO DR activist looks up is how many helpers, aides, or other accommodations will a student need on average and how disruptive are those child's needs or personal problems to the rest of the class. The razor's edge is "How do we teach the mostly ok kids without letting them go off and do things on their own?" (Thus not teaching them anything) and "How do we include, introduce, or otherwise improve a child's social development without placing it in front of other pupils ability to learn?" The most ideal scenario would be massive amounts of tutors for the kids that need the most help and a way to separate out and challenge the gifted kids in ways that makes sure they don't end up just being teachers. It is not to disparage the profession but eventually, a gifted child who is never challenged but also never given a chance to "play" or explore their own interests with others that are in a similar intellectual boat cannot and will not find the school experience fulfilling. Private tutoring though, and classes like I just described, are large institutions for the incredibly wealthy. And not in the U.S. Think Eton, any of the day public schools like Harrow or others in the U.K. The U.S has great military elite prep schools and a few private academies for getting into an Ivy League, but the actual quality of the education teaches higher learning without teaching emotive learning. To be honest, public schools don't even get the chance to do the former because their drowning in the administrative quagmire of public school that just lets teachers teach. You test for an evaluation of help WITH skills, not as a way to demonstrate them all the time. The final piece or truthfully the best piece of information that will inform a child's success in school is the quality of the home environment tied to parental attitudes toward achievement and the early interventions the parents are willing to give, both to a high class child, who wants to go to Harvard but does not study like they should GO to said school and for the crack addicts baby who has been developmentally delayed since pre-school and will largely miss out on the level of educational and therapeutic interventions the child needs to succeed in all areas, because the poor parents are either too pushy, in insisting pointing out that poverty and a lack of parental engagement is short changing their child OR that the child is being failed by a poor parent who lacks the education to spot when things are going wrong developmentally. A rich kid has the same types of stereotypes applied to them but instead their parents placate them with money and tutoring services that they really shouldn't be receiving by the time they reach college applicant age. The best and most equivocal time to make these early interventions and diagnosis (and thus predict academic success) is between the ages of 3-9. Instead of facing these issues down with the parents when the child was young (rich or poor) both were willing to blame teachers, who then get ragged on by an administrator, and finally who net a grade that does not reflect in any way, their actual readiness for college or higher level critical thinking, planning, and strategization. (As that's what maturity and adulthood actually are, no matter where you go in life.) An ability to plan out your next moves and think in as long a term as you want to. By that same metric you could conclude that emotionally, physically, and educationally some children's parents are not fully realized adults.

[@edie1707]

@@GeradMunschyou sound a lot like my boyfriend haha, I hope we are as successful as you and your wife are some day

[@toaster4693]

I quit teaching because American society has no respect for teachers or education.

[@Richard-vq7ud]

It is a broken system that wastes everything...money, time, talent, food, energy, sanity

[@kylekullin2520]

Do you like Trees 🎄?

[@Richard-vq7ud]

@@kylekullin2520 trees are nice

[@craigs1437]

American society is toxic, live and work as a teacher in Europe, Asia, Africa or the Middle East, and it's the complete opposite. Does this help?

[@kylekullin2520]

@@craigs1437 You need Tom Petty in your life!

[@kevinlawrence3105]

After 34 years, I quit. I was reassigned to do crap jobs. No one asked me what I wanted to do, but when I quit the admin stopped being my "friend" and hasn't spoken to me since. He never asked me if I was "ok." I worked 15 years at this school and got treated like dirt when nepotism moved me aside.

[@acedia4453]

It is a thankless underpaid profession with an extremely high stress rate. It is never about the kids or what is best for them, it is always a pre-determined curriculum sorted by committee as a one size fits all. This is why I had twelfth graders that were struggling with pre-algebra before heading off to college. The 'No Child Left Behind' universal standards set us up to be among the least educated populations on Earth.

[@laverdadbuscador]

we're poorly educated because of a few reasons. 1) we're comparing ourselves to other countries instead of making our own standards and innovation. 2) too many ignorant do-gooders fail to understand that children with IQ's below 80 aren't going to amount to much. Shouldn't even push college as an option to these people. Hell college really needs to stop being sold as a "cure to poverty" "ONLY option" like they do now. There are other options and we also need to be realistic with potential. A kid with an 80 IQ isn't going to become an engineer or game designer. They simply wont. 3) basics need to be completed by 8th grade. High school should be about some kind of career path offering trade skill training to kids that aren't accodemically studious. Germany does it that way and its a great way to not waste everyones time and tax dollars. 4) we need to update the curiculum significantly. We have history but its rarely applied. Usually its just a bland overview of some event and all we're expected to learn is the dates and names of a particular war or event. Applying the why and how an event happened and how it impacts us today is more or less lost. Math is the same way. Doing the same math problem over and over again for weeks on end without a purpose is extremely demotivating. Learning practical math like taxes, budgets, businesses, payroll, building, electrical basics, and insurance....this is far more realistic. Anything beyond this would fall into specialty knowledge they can learn in either trade school or college.

[@marcmeinzer8859]

And unfortunately these over-reactions such as no child left behind were originally prompted by the unspoken and taboo observation in some quarters that most people run the gamut from fairly stupid to really stupid, hence, academics are not a good fit for them. In a perfect world only the top third of the population intellectually would even remain in school after the fourth grade or so, but rather be diverted into manual arts of one sort or another where they could best employ their “gifts”, such as they are, which are modest at best. Okay, maybe everyone should get a sixth grade education, tops. Sometimes I think the Amish are overdoing it by staying in school through the eighth grade. And what you might ask is the average reading level of the adult population in general? You guessed it, grade six or lower is the attainment of fully 54% of the population. And how much education is required to gain admission to barber college? How about eighth grade. And I know barbers who are also ex-cons who make just as much money as most dentists. The way they can make such good money is because they’ve got eight or nine barbers working for them and their cut is 30% of what everyone else makes in their shop on top of their 100% share of the haircuts they do themselves. So it is that the notion that anyone without an education can possibly earn a living is exposed for what it is: bullshit.

[@pistoffpussycat5778]

@@laverdadbuscador you should go into education reform

[@reneedennis2011]

Bingo!

[@SoccerChik1010]

Dude, you don’t even have to explain yourself cuz others who don’t know how it is in the “inside” have negative comments. I gave up along time ago trying to make others even my family understand what it is like being on the inside. I quit high school three years ago and it was the best decision of my life. I am now at a community college and I am the happiest I’ve ever been. I know many teachers, many of my friends and even members in my family are teachers and we all complain about the same thing. Only if you are a teacher yourself you would understand. Thanks for being bold enough to be a spokes person

[@JerredZ]

Thank you, Dani! This means a lot to me. You rock!!!

[@hrhtreeoflife4815]

@@JerredZ being a SUBSTITUTE TEACHER for over 21 years: The formula for retirement is horrible 😢 21 years of teaching = 1/3 of benefits received by full time EXCEPT THAT THE SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY TOO BUT DON'T GET THE 1 FULL SERVICE CREDIT FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR. Put it simply my 21 years of subbing under the CALSTRS formula yielded me 7.17 years Of service credit. 😐 not too happy about that 😒

[@billTO]

Right on. I've taught everything from Grade 3-4 French to community college and university plus 17 years in IT. I was happiest at the end of my teaching career to end up teaching adult day high school. These were adults, mostly immigrants to Canada or refugees. They WANTED to learn (English, co-op, basic computer skills).

[@kitsune303]

I left teaching in 2014 after landing in a local ER in suicidal crisis. I was tired of admins undermining me by changing my quarter grades, student threats, no rules being enforced by the staff, principals taking student/parents side as a default position, admins and district "experts" micromanaging lessons for which they had no expertise, and a hundred other things tmtt. I now am a detention officer in an ICE detention facility and it is a less stressful environment and the detainees are less violent than the high school students I used to teach.

[@hrhtreeoflife4815]

Oh snap! 5 fights 1 single day at a high school The office had alot to deal with

[@fruitloopz311]

BASED ICE OFFICER. GOD BLESS YOU

[@jett3332]

Administration needs to change. It all flows from the top down.

[@pistoffpussycat5778]

@@hrhtreeoflife4815 Ha! 7 fights in one day at the school I work in. Beat ya!

[@reneedennis2011]

@@jett3332 Yup.

[@rapthewrapper5467]

My mom is a teacher and the amount of bs she tells me she deals with is unendurable to me

[@stans303]

"The Pandemic revealed people's true character", so true but not just in the teaching profession

[@nuetralkitty58]

Very true. It seems like the pandemic was something the world really needed because of how far humanity has fallen in our modern era.

[@miketexas4549]

Those that scowled because you didn't want an untested, experimental injection are the types that helped round up a certain group of people during WWII. Their inner evil was truly revealed. They have outed themselves as the mortal enemy of humanity.

[@jillsalkin7389]

@@nuetralkitty58 Rudeness has risen to a level that is just shocking!

[@nuetralkitty58]

@@jillsalkin7389 I thought I was spitting facts tho? 🤔 Was I not? Maybe I kinda exaggerated but I still stand by it. I mainly was referring to people in positions of power.

[@timothyhennon1510]

Had to suddenly resign in January when it became apparent that my hospitalized mother would not survive past the next few days, and that I would need extended time off to settle her estate. 12 years of teaching high school math, up to and including AP Calculus; was never paid more than $38K/year in that time, never got summers off because we're year-round with a significant online student base. 12 years of service and the administration couldn't even be bothered to send a sympathy card when my mother passed. I'm glad I've left them behind.

[@dostagirl9551]

Whenever a teacher decides to stop bashing their head against the wall in a fruitless effort to get help or their concerns addressed, the automatic response of those who ignored their calls is “you were never in it for the kids, and we are better off without you.” This is pure BS. Some of the best teachers and child advocates I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with were the first to leave. These were not worksheet warriors. They were people who just couldn’t continue to sacrifice their mental and physical health - not to mention the well-being of their own families. If they truly did not care, then how easy would it be to simply pass everyone to make the higher ups happy and collect their checks?

[@valeriemelendez5860]

I saw this happen with several students. One woman told me that when the Highschool found out that she couldn’t read at all, they put her to help in the cooking class all day. At least she can cook! The middle and elementary schools were just passing the kids that stuggled all the way to Highschool. Those kids were not even in special education. They were in our regular classes - the ones who couldn’t read…. And almost all of us had a hard time with math. They rotated our entire 8th grade in small groups for math tutoring - some even had to stay after school because no one could do simple fractions. Im so thankful that I learned to read! Lol 😅 the schools finally improved over the years

[@Christinekueblerartist]

Keep speaking out. I left public Ed after 13 years three years ago and am now fully out. 16 years total. It’s completely rotten and many people really don’t understand how truly rotten things are. I’ll never go back.

[@kristenturner1222]

What do you do now?

[@heatherhatch9290]

Same time as my exit

[@kimberlyhicks3644]

Here, here!!! ABSOLUTELY 💯

[@jzwalz51robin45]

One reason: "Restorative Justice" allows students to disrupt classrooms without consequences

[@j.r.6880]

Dude. That comment is spot on. We can’t discipline. Instead we have to sit in circles and talk about our feelings

[@Mars-jt9di]

Restorative Justice done correctly works. The problem is that admin tries to use it INSTEAD of having a discipline plan. Teachers never get adequate training or support on new programs, so a flawed version of the program is implemented poorly, and when it doesn't work there is no discipline plan in place, either

[@rc6184]

You are correct sir! The new principal we got this year just announced they would be implementing that nonsense, which means no discipline. I am looking for a different job after 12 years.

[@gg_rider]

If you look into the background of a lot of these innovative methods and buzzwords, including "justice", it means Critical Social Justice. Critical does NOT mean critical thinking. It means "ruthless critique", as Karl Marx said, of everything that isn't fully communism. The original sources, if you look deeper, insist on viewing the world through Marxist faith. Paolo Friere of Brazil became a huge influence in the West. His main deal was a skill at complaining in a particular manner about injustice, while praising Vladimir Lenin, Chairman Mao, and Che Guevara, as well as Herbert Marcuse.

[@jzwalz51robin45]

@@JenSell1626 The parents are usually deniers, enablers, or neglectful.

[@Hilaire_Balrog]

27:08 That is me. I feel so guilty because i spend so much time with my students and making sure they are taken care of an enjoying my classroom experience that i have nothing to give my son, who is the same age as my students, when i get home. I am exhausted and instead of throwing a ball around in the backyard or hearing about his latest video game or idea, I just want him to be quiet and let me take a nap. I can't do that to him anymore.

[@JerredZ]

Cole - I hear you. I can still see his face when I walked in, so happy to see me, and I was dead inside. I'm still haunted by that image and that feeling, but I'm glad I got out. Good luck to you, friend. If you need me, reach out.

[@l.romans4861]

Im in the same boat. I made the decision to resign last week, I have tears in my eyes as I type this. Family first I will figure the rest out.

[@pistoffpussycat5778]

@@l.romans4861 God bless you. It's your family that will take care of you when you get sick or old. Not the stupid district.

[@gabrielleangelica1977]

All the demons who say teachers have it easy, NEVER taught a day in their life!!!👹

[@JerredZ]

Not one. They couldn't last a few minutes in the lunchroom even! :)

[@pistoffpussycat5778]

@@JerredZ A parent got a taste of it when she got stuck in a real threat lockdown with a bunch of students who didn't have the discipline to be quiet for a few minutes. She ended up telling them to "shut the fuck up!"😆😅🤣😅

[@rue-for-you-music]

My experience teaching college for the past 18 years has been nothing but a stream of endless narcissistic abuse from administrators, senior faculty, and now the students are doing it too. I just got tenure and promotion after switching institutions 3 times, and I am happily letting them do what they will with me for non-compliance with the mandates.

[@MisterB2eternity]

REALLY? IN COLLEGE? SHEESH.

[@marcmeinzer8859]

I also had an extremely negative experience teaching community college on a six month adjunct contract at an adult learning center doing GED tutoring. My boss who was a complete asshole defrocked priest would complain incessantly about the higher level administrators but he was so afraid of his own clerical staff that he allowed his secretary to run the place bossing the teachers around even though she was totally non-degreed. This was in an urban area and the campus police were like the Waffen SS they way they would mete out beat downs to some of the more insolent and defiant students. Then they’d drag them down to the police station to check for bench warrants and off they’d go to the county jail for skipping out on traffic court or some such nonsense. I didn’t give a shit. As I told my one student who went there who I’d had in high school, “if you’re not observant enough to notice you’re dealing with a regular Cleveland cop who’s wearing a Marine Corps tie-tack then you deserve to get beaten up.”

[@pawnee68]

I taught in the Army for many years. The MAX student/teacher ratio is 1/6. If we got a waiver, they could bump it to 1/8. The Army even knows.

[@GJ-yl9wv]

Thank you for your empathy towards the students. This is the only teacher quitting video I've seen where students are considered as intelligent and capable and victims of their circumstances just as much as the teachers. Wishing you the very best.

[@JerredZ]

Hey, G J - THANK YOU. Seriously. I don't read many comments on my teaching videos because they honestly depress me - but you get it. Thank you.

[@rebeccat9389]

I agree, as a homeschooling parent, there was a lot that resonated with me in this video. So many kids WANT to do well and the system is not tailored to work for them and sometimes actively hurts them. I love teachers and public education but my kiddos seem to suffer in that environment terribly, and it’s just so hard. I didn’t want to homeschool but I loved school and learning and I couldn’t stand seeing the love of learning dying and their self esteem plummeting. Thank you for your empathy.

[@josephcoon5809]

How is it empathetic to abandon students?

[@josephcoon5809]

@@rebeccat9389 Real empathy would lead to building a better system. What good does it do to “feel bad” for others when no ACTION is made to better their situation?

[@josephcoon5809]

@noturbusiness123 “You can’t change anything until you’ve made it to the top of your TINY little spot of authority.” I can tell you don’t understand how a seed becomes a tree or an egg becomes a human.

[@robbingcars9140]

Imagine telling a teacher they’re paid too much 🤡

[@cc1k435]

They do all the time. Same with support staff. Everybody works long hours every day, logging in unpaid time to keep the place running, and you get NO credit for that. When you get your summer off, it means that you've already put in that time during the other months of the year and then some.

[@rebeccamartin2399]

That was a claim made in the 80s. As much of a lie then as now.

[@joes4990]

@@cc1k435 lazy teacher crys. get over it. you make more money than most and you only work 7 months a year.

[@alexlindstrom9971]

@@joes4990 you're an embarrassment

[@artiswilkins306]

If you had to do and deal with what teachers had to-- you would quit. With teachers reporting students having guns and other weapons, and admin. not doing anything about it-- and teachers getting shot in the face or getting shot and killed. That’s not crying-- that’s called sounding an alarm. Some teachers work in dangerous schools-- and no-- they are not paid enough for that 💩.

[@cherylnelson3499]

I am considering leaving the profession. I have taught for 30 years. I am overwhelmed by the number of students with serious mental problems. I have been hit, sworn at, and attacked by students and I teach 5 through 10 year olds. Students are removed and returned 10 minutes later with no consequences or explanation. I wanted to change the world, but now I just want to be safe...

[@Fcreceptor]

It’s not mental problems. It’s a societal acceptance of allowing people to act inappropriately. No more punishment, as these losers think you’re somehow going to hurt them emotionally or not let them express themselves. It’s the same shit in mental health work. I worked inpatient psychiatry for 10 years and most places promoted this ridiculous notion that the patients had more autonomy over their treatment. If they threw chairs at staff, the doctors and administrators were accepting of letting them scare staff and other patients because setting limits, restraining, medicating, or intervening was seen as harmful. You were traumatizing them by punishing them. Keep in mind, 90% of them just drug addicts. The same people you see on these jailhouse TV shows. Thieves, druggies, and even murderers. Common criminals who just abuse society. I’m so glad I’m out of that field.

[@IHateMyAccountName]

30 years? Get that pension and take an easier job out.

[@blugreen123]

I quit being a para for that exact reason. I worked with severe special needs, so we were just supposed to accept physical a*use, after which the student(s) received no consequences, as "part of the job." No job is worth your health and safety.

[@travisb1757]

The cultural moral decline and broken families is the problem. All the problems stem from this.

[@redflamearrow7113]

Parents won't parent their own children.

[@stacilockman329]

My last year in education was the most depressing time of my life. I really didn’t think I was going to survive it. Everything you said here is true.

[@Pterodactyl-kn3ve]

How many other teachers can tell similar stories? How many teachers can say OMG THIS!!!!

[@JerredZ]

Too many, I suspect!

[@johna837]

I taught high school for four years in the South Bronx. My story is almost identical to yours. Walked out in the middle of the day and never looked back. I really miss the kids and I know I made a difference - but the four reasons you mentioned for quitting were deal breakers. Recently, I surprised my first ninth grade class at their graduation three years later and when I walked in, I didn't even know if they'd remember me - but they all came running over screaming and giving me a hug. It was very moving. It was the kids who really cared about their education who pay the price for a broken system.

[@davidwilliams7552]

I can relate to a lot of this. Stood up against my principal and paid the price, he was eventually sacked for misconduct. Weak leadership is a huge problem. Am working on farms now after 25 years teaching and so much happier.

[@OldGirl780]

26 year former public educator here…. And I resonate with all you shared! Saddest part is that for my last 15 years I was a principal- and not the type that drive you nuts; the type who supported you and fought for you and held myself, the students, and faculty/staff to high expectations but made sure I gave you the time and resources to meet those. And in the last 7-10 years of my career, I was constantly battled by my supervisors, often in direct contradiction to their PR mantras. You are SO ON POINT when you say the system is broken… but I’ll add this- I now firmly believe that there is intention in maintaining the chaos and brokenness. I can’t say for sure WHY, but no other conclusion makes sense. I was literally punished for leading REAL, positive changes with my team. Time for school choice!!

[@alexlindstrom9971]

It's part of the general effort to dismantle public education and make the population dumber than ever.

[@pistoffpussycat5778]

@noturbusiness123 please elaborate

[@Teal_Seal]

@@pistoffpussycat5778 Might as well ask… Why did we shut down our pipelines, oil leases, and nuclear plants, while begging our enemies for oil, using up our emergency reserves, and being just fine with letting China pollute away on our behalf to make our cheap goods? Why are we fighting a proxy war against Russia and risking nuclear war? What’s the end game there? 😂 Why are our borders wiiiiide open? Why are we printing money at record amounts while going after anyone being paid more than $600 and raising interest rates? Why did they hold our jobs hostage over an unproven jab? And prohibit lawsuits over harmful effects? Why do we have explicit picture books and novels in elementary schools? Why are kids being put on conveyor belts toward transitioning - drugs and surgeries - after 1-2 therapist visits? Activists disguised as teachers, therapists, and doctors are helping to maim and sterilize a generation. The treatments are lifelong. Consider that these kids will need help from Big Medical if they want to be parents someday, too. $$$ Why is the US and the west in general regularly painted as the most racist society despite the millions of people worldwide who would come here immediately if given the chance? Why are guns only a problem in mass shootings? Why are the hundreds dying in big Democrat-led cities ignored? 🥱 Why are certain DA’s reducing felonies to misdemeanors and turning offenders out as soon as they’re arrested? Why did California basically green light theft up to $1000? Why do certain states mail ballots to citizens who don’t ask for them - to their new address in a different state - and not require ID for in person voting? Why does the government food pyramid show Lucky Charms and Cheetos as more nutritious as eggs and steak? And why is obesity being promoted as normal and fitness as fat-phobic? Who benefits from a divided, weak, confused, ignorant, unarmed, poor, but highly entertained, distracted society? I mean, your guess is as good as mine 😏

[@merricat3025]

Maybe because the people high up want to destroy public education. Look who Trump had ss Secretary of Education.

[@AbroadonaBudget]

'The culture of fear keeps them from speaking out'- EXACTLY. The story of teachers being written up for sharing their opinions is so familiar. Also I shudder when any workplace talks about being a family. Nope.

[@bellyfulochelly4222]

Right? That's so gross and manipulative.

[@PH-ih1pn]

Yes it's creepy talk to say "family"

[@stormchaser419]

As a veteran teacher, I can tell that this man Jerred is top notch and knows the realities of teaching. He is what I always called a "Master Teacher"

[@pipedrmmr]

The teaching profession is the lesser since you left the classroom. You actually care about the students and their education. Thank you for taking the time and effort to make this video.

[@randallmcgrath9345]

The pandemic has revealed ALOT of true colors even outside of education. We are realizing how weak several parts of our system are in education, healthcare, and economics.

[@auroradreamcatcher]

This is exactly what's happening to the nursing industry right now.

[@JerredZ]

I've heard this from so many nurses, Aurora. So sad.

[@xhaltsalute]

But we didn’t get summers or holidays off…..

[@Kick_Rocks]

It's liberalism in both professions.

[@PH-ih1pn]

Agree. Its a culture of blame, fear and incompetence, not colleagues and teamwork.

[@rocqitmon]

@@xhaltsalute 3 x 12.5 hr days a week is even a better schedule than teachers have

[@therealmccoy3500]

Teachers are counselors, secretaries, lawyers, psychologists and teachers. They take work home, lesson plan, have to be parents and take care of their personal lives. Constantly stressed out. Constantly critiqued. It's a demeaning job. It's hard to continue something that is constantly beating you down.

[@JReyesTbn46]

Add accountants and travel planners on top of that depending on the class.

[@rachelkrumpelman5131]

You know what's the most insane thing about the education system? Students are naturally curious and WANT to learn....it takes A LOT to rob a child of that natural state. 🤔 Man, how much horrible policy must be in place to turn a kid off of learning?! It's insane. I thought this as a high school student in the 90s. I'm not a teacher but my heart goes out to all of you!!!

[@Bailey4President]

I feel this, and I haven't been in a public school in 20 years. I felt at the time that the purpose of public education was two-fold; to inculcate young people with and get them to internalize their place in the social hierarchy, and to kill curiosity by making learning so painful that nobody would willingly do it ever again. I now believe these may be unintended consequences. I was one of the "bad kids" he talks about at the end. I wasn't disruptive, but my GPA was 0.68, and I dropped out of high school halfway through my second senior year, when graduation that year became impossible. Believing myself ill-suited for school, I spent ten years working in kitchens, gas stations and warehouses. It wasn't until I worked at a college dining hall that I realized I was at least as smart as the kids who went to college. I enrolled at my state university, made the dean's list several semesters and graduated with honors. I'm now practice manager of two specialty practices at the largest hospital in my state. This is in spite of public school, not because of it.

[@jaceymartin4739]

after a decade abroad, I agree with you totally.

[@jaceymartin4739]

Please speak out more as your story is very important to the public. You were pigeoned holed when you were young, took one place that gave you a chance, and thrived!

[@kristita_888]

Your story is absolutely inspiring! ❤️

[@marcmeinzer8859]

I knew people in the navy with astronomically high IQs who were total misfits in school but could learn advanced technical subjects at navy schools and learned extremely high paying skills such as nuclear reactor operator, radioman, missile technician, marine navigation, air traffic control, and so forth. And others were extremely well read.

[@OldGirl780]

Well done! Public school IS designed to kill curiosity and critical thinking. I’m so glad that fire was not extinguished in you!

[@mashajohns7810]

Wow, thank you for the follow up video. This is the absolute Truth. As an aide, I see so many teachers that are at the brink of mental breakdown, and even with those I work with. It is incredibly heartbreaking how school districts see us as a number, just another person to fill in or at least that’s the impression I get. Within teaching profession, job, not many people understand the daily struggle, the angst, the chaos we feel every day. I wish there was more appreciation for ALL educators no matter their job title. THANK YOU for this.

[@feverishchic]

☺️

[@jaceymartin4739]

You nailed it! I got written up for my project-based learning philosophy. Of course, the drill sergeant next door was loved by the administration.

[@charliemcpherson6299]

That's because school administrators are among the most mediocre people imaginable.

[@claireeebee]

The compassion you showed that kid taking care of his siblings is really touching. It's an absolute shame the person observing you lacked that.

[@2112jp]

All of those evaluations conducted by admin are soooo subjective. How could they call a teacher a ‘highly effective’ or ‘effective’ by a 15-20 mins sit in, smh. Honestly, I feel like they find any little thing to deduct points; that way they can save money in the budget.

[@tlk0906]

I taught 40 years ago and left the profession while raising my family. In 2012, I returned to school as a grad student and became certified (again). I spent 2013-2020 trying to return to full-time teaching. I taught high school math (through Calculus) filling twelve long-term sub positions. I could not get a permanent full-time position and threw in the towel. I have accepted that I might not be equipped for today's classroom. However, in those experiences, I found that kids had not changed. They were kids of the 80s who tried pushing the same buttons and breaking the same rules, but parents and methods of parenting had changed. This combination forced impossible expectations on educators. We are not mini gods.

[@maryma8921]

Omg, I can’t agree more with what you said in this video. I was an Assistant Professor and I quit my job at the beginning of the pandemic for the same four reasons you summarized here. It’s such a pity that your video is not watched by more people. I wish every single person in US could watch this video and understand how bad the education situation is in US now.

[@madams989]

Hey do you mind me asking what you’ve gone on to do instead?

[@stevencortez7097]

Been teaching for 30 years, have had a wonderful career. The one thing I cannot compete with - phones.... companies spend millions of dollars to get the attention of teens in their apps and games. I have hard time competing with that no matter how interesting my lessons or team building or dog and pony show I put on in front of the class. The teens are glued to their phones and seem addicted to them. Not sure how many years I have left in me.....

[@paulies1871]

Me too!

[@JWB1979]

I teach ESL in Japan. Students here aren't even allowed to bring smartphones to school.

[@katanasunshine8050]

I put in my resignation a few weeks ago after 5 years… and I’ve never felt better.

[@JerredZ]

GOOD FOR YOU!!!! now it's time to take care of yourself!

[@nancyfonzen3044]

When i was in school, a Chicago Catholic school in the 1960’s the class sizes were anywhere from 54 to 39 throughout grade school and a little less in high school. We were taught to respect our teachers. For the most part we learned what we had to learn without much chaos in the classroom. I have been an environmental educator and sub teacher for many years and have a lot of respect and sympathy for the teachers today.

[@kayhalsey]

My daughter is teaching in Austin Texas for her 7th year. She has 28 students in her class, and it is very challenging to keep them under control. She is constantly dealing with behavior problems, and I don't know how she ever teaches. She asked the students who wants to learn a particular lesson and only 1 raised their hand. She feels like she is a warden in a prison. No parent support. Parents don't even call her back.

[@marcmeinzer8859]

In a way school is prison for kids, who are guilty of being useless, since the child labor laws were passed. And since you can’t really test out of the schools early or get a GED as soon as you could pass it, plus they now have social promotion, it’s not like you’re really there to learn anything objective rather than just time serving. Plus, I maintain that the average person in society is not only bored by academics, but actually violently anti-intellectual, so there you have it. And undisciplined kids are basically rotten little assholes by any yardstick. Spare the rod and spoil the child.

[@monkeybunny89]

Jerred Z, I hope you continue this fight. I have trauma, literal trauma on how my principal treated me 1 year ago. I quit teaching afterwards. I continuously feel anger bursting out that I have to contain when I think of that principal and how she treated me. This was in LAUSD. What I hated the most, was that I couldn't report her to the administration higher ups because of fear of retaliation. In a country where recommendation mean the most, it is the job of employees to suck up no matter how unethical or cruel their supervisors might be. That is the REAL problem.

[@mtstar89]

I recently left myself before the new school year starts. I thought of hanging in there but after two years could not see myself working weekends to catch up on grading and worrying about what to do that following Monday only to get disrespected by the same students all over again. Many would tell me not to work past my contracted time but I would be paying for that the next school day. Admin at my first school was incredibly unhelpful and had a better experience with the admin at my new school. With that being said, student behaviors were still out of control. The talking back, the enabling parents, the time/effort put into a lesson that wouldn’t be taken seriously, cell phones, large class sizes amongst other things did it for me.

[@kristenturner1222]

What job are you looking at doing now?

[@BarryBrandon-mz7gb]

As long as teachers keep taking hours of work home nothing will change.

[@miriamcollins7587]

Not only do new teachers NOT get any additional support or any help with excess duties until they get their feet wet (this would make the most sense)….they actually have targets on their back. They are often on probationary contracts, so they are actually apt to get harassed by bully administrators who need to feel powerful and competent at a newbie’s expense. It is definitely POOR leadership and there is a culture of fear and hazing at many of these schools. And yes, the majority of these administrators couldn’t WAIT to escape the classroom and were truly very mediocre teachers….or they were coaches…and had no core classes.

[@SimplyTomasTheCollection]

💯✅

[@vbian88]

EVERY ounce of your message rings true. I Wish you well and am sad that this profession lost another dedicated teacher.

[@jillsalkin7389]

NOTHING is being done to stop this landslide of the decline of teaching in urban schools.

[@reneedennis2011]

As a former grade-level teacher (I only lasted three years), I can attest to everything that you're saying. Thank you for this video.

[@bbutler7158]

Great commentary! A good 20 years ago I talked to an elementary teacher who said she would be quitting before her retirement in 5 years. She said she loved children and to teach but the district was enforcing kids to move on to the next grade because of their age and not ability. Parents were demanding their child be moved ahead to the next grade and the schools gave in. Soon enough the teachers were showing kids cheat sheets on the annual testings. 😞

[@weirdthingstoeat7198]

I remember just leaving to go to the washroom, and the teacher *YELLED* AT ME for *NOT* asking for "permission". I thought I was in *PRISON* . And when you mentioned that in your video regarding teachers doing that.. it gave me a *BAD* flashback!

[@greorbowlfinder7078]

Teachers are the only ones expected to have any standards. How do I know if my administration is meeting standards? How do we measure administration? Do parents have any standards? How do we measure if the parents are successful ? We aren't on the same team. When I quit I just agreed that I'm not on their team anymore. Good luck.

[@lucydeantiguatarot8977]

Everything you say is true. I was a teacher for over 25 years and this is not just a problem in the US. It is a problem everywhere --be it private or public schools. I not only taught in the US, I also taught in Latin America. I taught from pre-school to college level. The most challenging were k-12 systems. The kids are just not willing to support it. We have a system that was developed for the beginnings of the industrial age, and it has not changed since I was in high school --1972! It is worst now because teachers get no support from administration nor from the parents, and so children just become difficult to manage. I was glad to leave the system and started my own private programs and it was great! I would not get caught in the traditional classroom ever again. The way I see it, let the parents deal with their children. Many parents realized the frustration of having THEIR own kids around all day long during the covid shut down and many people would say, those poor parents, but for me, I was thinking, let them get a taste of what it's like to be a teacher. Since parents "know" everything about education, pedagogy and teaching, let them deal with their kids. I had a student throw a desk at me. That is when I left the traditional teaching field for good and have never regretted it. Also, when they (administration) tell you that they are using innovative methodologies, don't believe them because if they are not spending the money to improve the system by making classroom groups smaller and paying teachers more along with taking teachers seriously and respecting the profession, it's a big lie. I honestly believe that all of this craziness in our educational system will not change. The way that kids are learning today is no match for the transitional systems of teaching, and the teaching educational programs at our universities are not dealing with the problems in the system. This is why new young teachers that enter the profession have no idea how bad it is, and the public does not want to believe how bad it is either. It's a huge problem. I don't even think that paying teachers more will fix the problem. If I had children today, I would not send them to traditional schooling systems. Not at all!

[@redflamearrow7113]

I absolutely agree.

[@maryma8921]

Agree +1

[@1.jurisha.j]

This is the truth!

[@smokeylake3150]

It can improve once we get rid of the Department of Education and bring education back to the states as it is suppose to be.

[@smokeylake3150]

There is no traditional education in many public schools. Just WOKE indoctrination.

[@joshuamaronson3257]

The teachers like Jared that we actually want for our kids are leaving in droves, leaving our kids in a worsening situation, their lives directed by administrators who don't teach, don't listen to teachers students, or educational research. So sorry for your sacrifice but I hope we hit a tipping point and remake schools that work for both teachers and students. It's happening at the college level too. This was an excellent presentation of a dire situation. I hope you don't mind being quoted....

[@tonyahockless588]

I have been working as an instructional aide for the past 8 months at a charter school. Absolutely every word in this video is TRUTH! Thank you so much for using your voice.

[@nightshade2826]

As a student, I cannot express how much debt I feel to teachers like you. It is hard being a teacher and it is hard being a student so the two depressed and frustrated groups dont effect each other well when put in a classroom. My brother couldnt stand going to public school another year because the students are unmanagable (40 of them in one room) and the teachers either just let it happen or dont attend the lesson at all. He couldnt learn anything and he was actively punished for not being able to do so. My parents arent helpfull either. The lack of parenting is really a big issue. And teachers are expected to cover for that which is not fair.

[@PH-ih1pn]

I blame 2parents needing to work to support a family. It destroyed the family without the home parent. Children suffer.

[@PH-ih1pn]

@@JenSell1626 making your message unintelligible doesn't either

[@pistoffpussycat5778]

You hit all the nails on their heads!

[@thispersonrighthere9024]

i had very few good teachers in my life, but i really do appreciate that few who were good.

[@craigfowler7098]

A very mature comment, you will go far in life

[@chiptankgirl]

I recently moved back to the USA after getting absolutely fed up with the crappy profit driven schools I was working for abroad and now I'm scared it's going to be just as bad here.

[@morenike41]

It is.

[@DR-hy6is]

Just as bad or worse. There is no room for educators in these systems.

[@conanshinn8348]

I also taught abroad. There are many great public and private schools in the U.S. Usually an interview will include a tour of the school, which will reveal a lot.

[@carolinepersons4260]

If you’re considering Fusion Academy, don’t go for it. It is a private, for-profit school. Parents pay $55,000+ per year (or $125 per class hour). You as a teacher are paid ten minutes’ “prep time” per hour. This includes emails, parent communication... if you have been a teacher before, I don’t need to complete the list. It is the last school I taught at and will keep that title.

[@blakehunt3546]

I'm early in my second year and I'm beginning to have doubts. I teach high school and I simply cannot believe how incompetent/apathetic the students are. They do not care. Education is meaningless to them. I don't know what to do about that.

[@JerredZ]

Blake, it's not you. It's the system. The system created this apathy, and unfortunately it's the teachers who have to deal with it.

[@marcmeinzer8859]

The only way anybody develops intellectually is by developing a love of reading. But reading is taught as some sort of an onerous chore in a totally non-contemplative atmosphere. But literally it is the three Rs or reading, writing and arithmetic but without the basics it’s impossible to develop. And finally, if the kids have no reference points they just don’t get what you’re talking about. Teaching the American revolution to parochial 7th graders they just couldn’t comprehend that the early Americans were British colonists and that many of them enlisted in the British army to be loyal to the crown. They just couldn’t grasp that Canadians are really American loyalists which is why the OPP have crowns on their patches and hats. Then the idiot parents started complaining that I wasn’t patriotic because I told them Paul Revere said “the redcoats are coming” and not “the British are coming” because the colonists themselves were British. They were aghast when I informed them that Ben Franklyn’s son was not only a Tory but the Royal governor of Pennsylvania and that New York City was a Tory stronghold until the British army finally left in 1983. People in general are just simpletons. But then they thought I was weird because I was raised Episcopalian and told them “nothing could be more British than rebelling against the crown and even killing the king as happened to Charles I at the end of the English Civil War.”

[@marlifalize3191]

Unbelievable. Time to build new schools.

[@pistoffpussycat5778]

I'm in my 20th year and observing the same thing

[@pistoffpussycat5778]

@@marcmeinzer8859 As a highly trained reading specialist with a Master's in Literacy, I concur. They've made reading so tedious its hard to get the kids on the path to start. Don't even get me started on the crap they have to read in high school...I don't work in that field anymore

[@kmarshall53]

Survivor’s guilt in teachers would be an interesting research project. I’ve been retired for three years now, and although I am learning how to enjoy relaxing, my physical body still holds all of the stress I build up during 20 years of teaching experiences. I taught both middle and high school in WV, NC, HI and PA. I loved being a teacher because I cared about and admired my students. They taught me a lot. In return, I poured my heart and soul into being the best, most well-prepared, thoughtful, caring, encouraging teacher I could be. I created rooms that were minimalist, calming, supportive and curious. I don’t think I was everyone’s favorite teacher, but I do think the kids all knew I cared about them as an individual and wanted them to be successful. After 20 years, I was old enough to draw SS benefits and I gratefully retired. I’m just now focusing on getting myself to relax and fully enjoy my wonderful life! 🥰🎉🎈😁

[@modaisybooks7531]

I just quit! Everything you said was spot on. Now, I have to figure out what to do to make a living, but it’s not going to be going back into the public school system.

[@scarlett4014]

Congratulations, me too!! Good luck out there 🌻

[@tawnyc5335]

I am one of the mass exodus of teachers leaving the field. I quit and will not be teaching this upcoming year. I’ve been in a position to take on the “spillover” general ed classrooms and have been absolutely dumped on and this is by no means any disrespect towards students but a person can only take so much. Managing three classroom paraprofessional who constantly were not getting along or following IEPs appropriately (this was partly because they were not trained in special needs). There were constant interruptions from resource teams even to the point of them having services in my classroom while I’m trying to teach math to the other 22 students. Most of all it was the lack of administrative support. I was in the principals office daily and problems were never dealt with just swept under the rug. Last year I was affected in every way possible (emotionally, spiritually, physically). My self worth is worth far more than any job. If anyone is considering teaching please run the other direction fast and hard!

[@kristenturner1222]

Congratulations on leaving. I hope you are happier now. Any ideas on what path you will take now?

[@lisadiconti]

I don't listen to critics anymore. I don't listen to anyone who isn't a player...they don't know anything.

[@carolynlampman209]

The Peter Principle (people tend to rise to the level of their incompetence) is alive and well in education. Believe it or not back in the 70's we were trained the way you described, to engage kids, to take advantage of teachable moments and to make it relevant to our students, that we needed to move at the speed of the students and not the program. Leave No Child Behind and Common Core are the antithesis to that. That's why I walked away 13 years ago after 32 years in the classroom. I just couldn't do it any more.

[@PH-ih1pn]

That's so sad. You must have been such a great teacher. Society is just insane the way it punishes good professional people.

[@Seth9809]

That is confusing, because it would seem that NOCB would've ever exist if educators were actually doing all those things. I've seen study after study, classroom example after class room example... That such practices would result in rapid increases in learning, test scores, and student engagement. This is like being told we've already achieved heaven, and it was in the 1970s. I'm full of doubt about your claims.

[@kimberlyhicks3644]

I am the daughter and niece of teachers, so I grew up knowing the best practices and later I mentored under some incredible teachers. All of them left because they were not allowed to do their jobs. They knew to get out when they saw the writing on the wall. When I became a teacher, I tried to use the excellent skills I was taught by them, but was hindered in my efforts. I finally gave up and left teaching as well. The system is BROKEN! Homeschool your children!

[@jeannflores4243]

Yes, we have to stay with the pacing guide of the curriculum wether the students have mastered the content or not. And the testing

[@alexlindstrom9971]

@@Seth9809 you have not the first fucking clue what you are talking about. Look into what the actual effects of NCLB have been.

[@delphi-moochymaker62]

I hope teachers walk off the job in the thousands in each State. It is a crisis that has been swept under the rug by the media. When children show up to empty classrooms, receiving no education at all, only then will parents demand change. Currently 51% of Americans read at a grade 6 level or below. In Canada for example, where we pay our teachers well, 54% of the population have a University degree. Our teachers are respected and a members of a strong Union. Results speak.

[@virginiaoflaherty2983]

In USA "they" want to ban unions. Teachers are paid too much. Very alarming.

[@BarryBrandon-mz7gb]

Teachers in almighty "gunless" Canada are miserable as well.

[@Eevi-oi]

Dude im almost in tears watching this. Thank you so much for this video, you are saying exactly what needs to be said.

[@jaceymartin4739]

I had an administrator who mentioned several times that she was not prepared to give the PD workshop. The said administrator also praised the drill sergeant (teacher next to my classroom) but gave me a terrible review because I had students working in groups.

[@amhb2479]

Some people have no idea what teachers go through except teachers. Value yourself! God bless you.😊

[@angelalauria8397]

Spot on! I retired last year, and overall I loved what I did. The last few years, however, I was counting down the days/weeks/months until I could retire. I entered education feeling that it was an honorable profession. Somewhere along the line, we became public enemy #1. Behaviors are terrible, many parents don't care about their kids' education, and often administrators have never spent a day teaching in a classroom. Add to these issues the fact that politicians believe that they know more about education than the teachers. Just because you went to school as a kid, doesn't mean you know about education. I have been going to a doctor my entire life. That certainly doesn't mean I have the ability to diagnose diseases.

[@reneedennis2011]

Good points.

[@clinthowe7629]

i totally feel you, my wife us a teacher, and all the Bureaucratic bs they have to go through is absolutely unbelievable, i would newer want to be a teacher after seeing what she goes through. She does make good money but the mental strain is almost too much and frankly it sometimes pisses me off the way she gets treated, and all the politics and PC crap that goes with a public operation like that, makes it all the more not worth it.

[@jamesmccarthy4777]

God bless your wife and I hope she can quite soon or go to a better school.

[@inkydigitz]

If you can't be PC your just stubborn and lazy.

[@renboneify]

Before I quit my career in classroom education, I was terrified of coming to work. I was more afraid to try to make it through another day than to potentially end up without a place to live. The story of the teacher crying in her car hit hard, I was a strong and experienced teacher and no one could help me or offer any solutions to manage the classroom or effective "self care" to balance the anxiety and depression.

[@t.terrell7037]

They can definitely smell that “fear”….

[@Ilene-forward]

I went through the teacher training program at UNO, the best training I’ve seen (now teaching in Los Angeles. I’m sorry you’re facing all the same things we experience in an urban area. You are spot on!

[@teamsaunz]

Wow, best video ever. I work in a kindergarten class and for the first time in 26 years working with children, I am happy with my group of kids. Yes, 26 years!

[@suzanneweaver7579]

I hope someone watches this video and makes changes. You are absolutely right. Times have changed. I'm 54 and I was bored with school years ago. Imagine how bored these kids are today since they are learning a lot of the same things we did. My daughter graduated in 2017 and she hated school so much because she was so bored. The things we learned back in the day, kids have no interest in. My daughter would constantly say "whyyyy do I need to learn this stuff". And i would just tell her to do her best and just get through it. That's sad. I hope this video encourages change because it will just keep getting worse if it stays on the same path. I wish you the best!!

[@DeafSeattleGuy36]

YOU GET IT! Yep. that's what the educational system is like ow. It's hell, It's a broken system. I honestly don't know if I can last just a year from now.

[@akredshaw]

I taught high school for 15 years and it almost killed me. Like you, I don't know why I stayed so long.

[@jennipherralston2070]

My teaching coach told me to get a back bone. When she was a teacher she was crying everyday because she couldn’t handle the stress and the kids. All of of a sudden she forgot what it was like to be a teacher!

[@GorillasAndGardens]

Thank you! And, this doesn’t even go into what’s happening in special education and behavior settings rooms. I am now homeschooling due to my child having trauma from school. Ptsd from school. My child wasn’t safe there. It’s insane! Everything needs to be reworked for all involved.

[@davmatheophilus159]

What are the safety issues you are so concerned about?

[@bellyfulochelly4222]

Probably ED kids and their violent behavior in the classroom?

[@shawnbumgarner5638]

Hands down the best (most informative) video I’ve seen on here concerning the current state of teaching - as I would guess it is probably experienced by a lot of teachers currently in the profession. Thanks for putting this online and speaking of your experience!

[@ThatsSoEpik]

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 very well said. I taught highschool for 15 years, never felt better the day I walked away and never looked back.

[@cherrysquadzz]

Wow!!! Exactly 💯 Amazing, how can we change this?! It is so overwhelming.

[@JerredZ]

Tiffany... I don't know. I do know a good first step is by including the students in the conversation, and also to do WHATEVER it takes to make the students the first priority, right? We KNOW through decades of research and evidence that smaller class sizes increase both student learning and teacher satisfaction, but we keep moving AWAY from policies that allow this to happen, all while districts SAY that they make every decision based on what's best for students. That's just not true.

[@conemadam]

I totally agree with you on all points. First I taught at the university level. Then secondary. I adored my students and it was generally a love-fest at all levels. The work involved was astronomical. But when you have idiots as administrators who do not respect you and support you, as was my experience for the twenty years before I retired. People called me a “master teacher” because I had a PhD and had been teaching for so many years. That was bullshit, because I knew I was just a normal teacher who always loved my kids no matter whether they were graduate students or in 6th grade. New Principal 20 years ago. I was the only French teacher in the entire school system, I always had 5 preps at the very least and walked between the High School and the Middle School on a daily basis. This is totally normal if you teach French. But when Administrators schedule you to change buildings twice a day because they messed up, if I tried to protest, I was told that I was being unprofessional. But the Pandemic did, as you say, summoned teachers to do the impossible. I was made sick periodically by what I now know were panic attacks. There was no teaching nor learning happening, with exponentially increasing hours and demands. Mental health days were necessary but increased the stress. I stuck it out until 2021. This is because I couldn’t afford to retire until I had 20 years in a public secondary schools because I taught at universities and abroad for more than 30 years. I loved to teach, and I am still in touch with students who now are parents. But ignorance and stupidity are dangerous things in an Administrator. Sorry to blather on, but everything you said was spot on!

[@clinthowe7629]

they burn my wife out with training and paperwork and all the “big brother is watching you” crap that they are too exhausted to actually teach their students.

[@DR-hy6is]

And they wonder why their teacher shortage isnt improving. I hate them with all of my heart. They are doing more damage to the country with their policies than any group of enemies could possibly manage. I am tired of trying to explain it to people who don't care. I'm out of it. May they destroy the lives of every child in the country and doom the republic due to their sheer arrogance and incompetence.

[@ak5659]

When I started teaching in the 90's non-pedagogical paperwork was maybe 5% of my work load. When I left 13 years later it was close to half.

[@jessicafox2268]

True, I taught in an all black and Latino school in Patterson. When I interviewed for the job the principal flat out lied to me about the position. The teacher that I was replacing left because that same principal assaulted her and put her in the hospital. However, the principal told me that the teacher left because she got a position in another school and the district never replaced her. At the school I was constantly bullied by the other teachers for being light skinned, I'm mixed race and being young, Just out of college.

[@stewart2589]

I never watched anything about teachers but I'm glad this was recommended to me

[@jenocean824]

As a teacher I can say that your 4 reasons are right on! And, as a fellow teacher, I am so sorry you were treated by your administrator like that! Yes, there are times when you allow a student to sleep for a short time. Some of our students have horrendous extenuating circumstances. A compassionate educator put their individual student's basic needs first. I hear and understand you! Thank you for talking about the reality of being a teacher! Beginning at 24:26 - Truth! I'm trying to be that strong, but I don't think I'm going to make it! I'm worn and beaten down.