Why She Quit Teaching

[@wolliw_nosnah]

6th year teacher here-- I watched this and felt like I was listening to myself. I was finishing her sentences. EVERYTHING she said is true. Being a teacher in the U.S. is borderline traumatic. We are chronically overworked, under-appreciated and underpaid. And the lack of control we have over our work environment on a day to day basis is extremely draining. Thank you for speaking so eloquently on this issue on behalf of teachers!!!

[@pinkpugginz]

schools are slashing budgets again too. its hopeless

[@KindredKaye]

As of this year, I am now a former 6th-grade teacher. It is traumatic. My hair started to turn white while I was teaching and I thought it was just age. Once I quit, it began to turn back to my natural dark hair.

[@ChampagneandWaffles]

I really think the “community schools” movement is a major part of the problem in US education. We are asking schools not just to educate our children, a huge undertaking by itself, but also to provide so many social services like food & clothing assistance, mental health services, speech therapy, developmental assessments and therapies. Many schools in low income areas are doing this not only for their student population, but also their families. While all of these things are important, it is ludicrous that we have piled all of these responsibilities onto the public school system. And then we judge teacher performance on standardized tests, as if their only responsibilities were just teaching, ignoring all the other things we have asked them to provide for these kids.

[@marniekilbourne608]

Yes, I have a K-8 teaching degree but I choose to work in a corporate setting for many reasons.

[@one_ice_cold_chiq]

Former twenty year special needs teacher. She is spot on. I left too. Been at home with my son for the last three years. Way less stress.

[@user-rq4rt3ti8l]

Absolutely love this. I’m so glad you’re talking to normal people about their struggles in normal jobs - please do more of this!!!!

[@pabloescobarschanclas]

she’s very optimistic to assume every parent is trying their best….the problem is a lot of them aren’t trying their best, they’re not trying at all. a lot of children are unwanted accidents and/or used as pawns between parents in domestic battles, a lot of parents have no business being parents when they can’t even get their own lives straight.

[@evenesukh]

Exactly. It was actually annoying to keep hearing because a lot of parents are terrible people who are unfit to be parents. Why do people always say every parent is doing their best? They’re not. A lot of people are selfish and will dump their kids in a park for the day. Why do people think social services exist? Because parents are trying their best? No way. There are so so many bad bad parents who don’t deserve children. Not sure why she kept implying all parents are doing their best always

[@pabloescobarschanclas]

@@evenesukh some people are just too nice or they’re afraid of getting cancelled for speaking the truth….it got on my nerves too, too many people are making excuses for shxtty parents which contributes to why we are in the situation we are with these raggedy kids in schools. i wouldn’t even be alive right now if i was causing a scene in the classroom/throwing chairs at peers and teachers/sleeping in class every day, because my parents believed in a thing called discipline. having immigrant parents probably helped too. we live in an age of enabling people/making excuses though.

[@Wildf1r33]

i wish they’d be honest about this part. we have to recognize that parents are not doing their part. at all

[@melb2258]

Unfortunately you’re very right… and society has to put up with them… parents don’t care, it’s like it’s not their problem

[@chelseahayllar5853]

@@pabloescobarschanclasthe kids falling asleep and being disruptive are usually the ones with bad home lives, their parents don’t give a shit about them at home so why would they care what they’re up to at school? You should really have to go through checks to have children, there’s more investigation done when you try to adopt a dog than there is when you have a human baby.

[@BKL6068]

Teacher here- I’ve been waiting for an episode about this topic!! People bash on teachers, it’s enviable. What would society do if we all quit ? Is that what it will take to be paid more? To get smaller class sizes? It won’t ever happen, because so many teachers couldn’t leave their students like that. But for real, one of the most under appreciated jobs out there.

[@prickhead]

Omg, thankkkkk you for everything you do! Teachers are the absolute backbone of our society & every chance I get to give a gift 🎁 to my sons teachers, I do. Every interaction I have with them, I am thanking them up and down for keeping my boy safe, happy & smart. They are an extention of my home, a place where he spends just as much time and recieves just as much love that he does here. Again, thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Our kids love you, as they should. ❤️

[@BKL6068]

@@prickhead it’s supportive and kind people like you that raise the good ones, that’s for sure! Your support and appreciation goes a long way. I am sure your sons teacher is so grateful to have you as a parent. I know I would!

[@zohramartini9425]

The society bashes all nurturing jobs nowadays such as teaching, nursing, helping the sick and weaklings.

[@zinazina6367]

@@prickhead I totally do the same😂💖 sometimes Im afraid Im overdoing it a little bit, but then I think maybe its making up a bit for all the hard times some parents give them. Appreciate your childs teacher, they are almost like regular people but then with capes💖

[@yvonneyvonneable]

Teaching will change in the future and brick and mortar classrooms will be gone so enjoy it while it’s here!

[@theeyeofday]

I remember being that kid in the back of the class sleeping. I could never get sleep bc of the abuse at home and school was my only safe place. Teachers are truly angels. I am here today because of the teachers who listened to me and cared for me when no one at home did.

[@amayakkendall4850]

She honestly seems like she was the best teacher so unfortunate that the system wasn’t setup to actually support her.

[@yvonneyvonneable]

It’s like this everywhere! Across the states. :(

[@transitionsnc]

That email this former teacher read aloud is total projection on the part of the parent. It's unbelievable what teachers have to go through. Teachers are expected to be parents, counselors, and behavior therapists in addition to their actual job of teaching. No one person can do that as well as deal with the classroom behavior problems.

[@corablah9809]

Shocked to see no one is telling you you are mom shaming. These people infantilize women and it makes me insane. I am a mom, btw, and I see the hypocrisy of all of these women who scream they hate their kids, but spend not even 30 minutes one on one time with their kids. They go to school 7-8hours to come home, and be handed a tablet lol

[@justine1767]

!!!! Projecting is exactly what that parent was doing. She had no contact with the teacher all year but yet had all that to say? Really wild. It’s sad to hear that the child was sleeping during class, probably tired from being on electronics all night with no bed time.

[@mommybat2941]

It’s sad when a teacher is trying to help and parents take it as an attack on there parenting and think they can do no wrong. I’m a mom and we all make mistakes. Parents who also think there child does nothing wrong ever is also delusional.

[@transitionsnc]

@@mommybat2941 Yes. I agree with you.

[@JMLgymnut]

I am flabbergasted at this so-called mother's refusal to establish a bedtime for her child. That is parenting 101.

[@transitionsnc]

I watched this video from start to finish and a few things struck me. First, it seems to me that this woman was born to teach but that the impossible pragmatics of our educational system and our failing family structure has impeded her from doing so. The breakdown of the family structure is evident in this video and it's affecting everyone, whether you come from an intact family or not. It is impossible to teach if the kids don't come to school ready to learn and this is not the teacher's fault, yet they bear the brunt of their students' family chaos. I also think that we expect a small percentage of people to be the scapegoat for the problems of our society. Teachers fall into this category. This woman is empathetic and she really cares about her students. At minimum, she should be making $90K and she should be held in high regard for all the support she gave her students. But of course this is not the reality. It's just expected that people like her will give and give and give at the expense of themselves. I'm really glad you're doing podcasts like this because people need to know. I'd much rather listen to podcasts like this than vapid celebrities. Keep doing what you're doing.

[@ilovesoccerandalba]

I could t agree more Christina! I could easily relate to this teacher myself.

[@momedusa]

Dude WHAT lmfao

[@SocksPropaganda]

​@@momedusa Reread it or something damn tf u mean

[@jigglehugs]

@@momedusa you have to read it.. it’s articulate and easy to comprehend if you’re fluent in English. No shame if you’re not

[@Amila-ym7ny]

@Destiny except that it solves a lot of problems lol

[@CourtneyAnnM]

As a former teacher, so many relatable quotes that resonate so much. "At the end of the day, even if it is your passion and it is what you're meant to do, it is still a job. We're still humans." 100% this. People assume that because teachers love children and are passionate about educating, we should be grateful for getting paid pennies while also getting no appreciation or decency from administration, the system, and parents. "Leadership loses sight of what it's like to be a teacher." The main reason I left teaching - administration. "I have an office job now, 9 to 5, which may seem like the worst day in the world to some but the normalcy and balance it gives..." Absolutely. I work a standard state government job now. My stress levels are almost nonexistent, work life balance is amazing, and I finally have the time and bandwidth to revisit my hobbies I completely gave up while teaching because I came home late and exhausted every single day. Thank you for sharing your experience that so many have gone through, or are currently going through and may question their valid feelings.

[@Lovelyasdfghjkl]

The administration is worse than the parents tbh. I feel like if the principal says something the parents take it seriously but if the teacher does it’s like she’s admitting she can’t do her job even if it’s not her job to raise your kid

[@stephanienemeth8]

The guest was so well spoken!! Even after all she’s been through she still has so much empathy for those students! So glad she made the decision that was best for her mental and emotional health. Favorite episode❤

[@LiterallyVee]

You can tell she has such a big heart. There are so many roadblocks and system failures, When we fail our teachers we fail our children.

[@ioanaploscaru3172]

She is so right, if you quit teaching, you'll find out that the skills that you acquired during your teaching years will help you in so many ways. If you "survive" teaching, you can basically do anything. I also switched 180° to a completely different work field, and the things that my coworkers stress about, i don't even find them stressful.

[@marieantoinette8675]

Would you mind sharing what you do now? I’m graduating with a teaching degree in a month, and I feel like teaching is my only professional option.

[@SpottedFrogGlass]

@@marieantoinette8675 I left teaching at the end of this year (after three years) and I am starting as a dental assistant next week. I also have had interviews for more administrative type work.

[@graceperrigo462]

%100

[@VectorRabbit]

@@marieantoinette8675 Congrats on graduating, hope you're doing well!

[@bb-fm9kn]

slay

[@mdawg7169]

As a teacher who taught during the pandemic and a bit after, EVERYTHING she is saying is true: not just concerning student behavior but the feelings she describes are all spot on. Imagine having to start and finish every day in crisis mode while having to take care of 20+ kids and attempting to get some of the curriculum through to students. I also lost weight while teaching- often working through lunch whether it be dealing with students, admin, or prepping for the next day/class. I would come home and fall asleep in my clothes from exhaustion and miss dinner. I would sit in my car on my very short breaks and when I came home and sob from stress and frustration and just because my body was in panic mode all the time. I really became a shell of myself, too. It all became too much. People keep asking me why I'm not going back and it's all just too much to explain. But she nails it all.

[@madisongutierrez8499]

Omg. I was hoping there would be a teacher guest on here. I feel like a teacher's job is so underrated and unappreciated and it's so nice to have someone talk about it on a public platform. As someone who just went through student teaching I would have to say that the most challenging thing about being a teacher is classroom management and parental support. I feel that if there truly was that support coming from the community then it would help out with at least 50% of the issues in the classroom. Sadly that isn't the case, so it's just challenging.

[@brittanyzahn7939]

My mom has worked in the school district as an elementary school librarian for years and all of what she is saying is 100% accurate. Behaviors are out of control and leadership isn't doing much of anything to help these poor teachers and support staff. So THANK YOU SOOO MUCH to our teachers and support staff. I know how much you are all taken for granted and it sucks.

[@karinadoshi3950]

yes but student behavior is part of the job. all students are different so their behavior is too, plus some have underlying disabilities that correlate to the behavior

[@karinadoshi3950]

all the schools I’ve been to have done amazing with behavior management, or do the best they can with the support they have and I still do great. I think this issue is more of a location thing rather than all schools.

[@ashleya3858]

And this is why we all remember the teachers who just handed out paperwork. Because great teachers like this who want to apply new methods of teaching are not supported and forced to leave.

[@OchioChan1325]

This is the main reason I stopped my pursuit to become a teacher. I could tell I wouldn’t be able to manage so many kids and things at once let alone just getting by with my paychecks. I really have so much respect for teachers I can’t imagine what they go through. This is really heartbreaking to hear from someone who was so excited and had so much ambition for teaching to deal with all these things and want to leave.

[@pinkpugginz]

Teachers need to be paid 110k to start. thats why other countries are leagues ahead of America. education first.

[@Nour-mx2qs]

Yeah I’ve seen quite a few teachers quitting/deciding to stop teaching. Whether it’s the money, the stress, the inflexibility, etc.

[@ilovesoccerandalba]

Speaking from a teachers standpoint, it’s the lack of support that many teachers that go into this field love being able to help and support kids but it’s the misbehavior in that burn out that leaves teachers feeling exhausted and emotionally distraught.

[@Leejoyyn]

My sister and mom both have worked in schools, and this is spot on. I used to want to be a teacher as well, but one of the biggest set backs is the treatment teachers get, or the lack of appreciation.

[@deannapowell7237]

Teachers at private schools get paid LESS than public schools. My dad was a private school teacher my entire upbringing. We were POOR. But my siblings and I got to go to private school k-12 for free (or heavily discounted) because he was a teacher at all of our schools.

[@tateytotz]

Yes!

[@snakesonaframe2668]

I think this varies greatly depending on the school.

[@jocelynheredia7340]

This was such an interesting episode, I was never interested in teaching but hearing her devotion to her students and how understanding she was of their emotional needs made me have an even greater appreciation for teachers I really feel they should be compensated more for the work they do

[@Tinytechnodancer]

Parents need to step up and be more involved in their children’s lives

[@jesskelley-madera4830]

It hurts my heart to hear that accepting verbal abuse is “part of the job description” according to some people. What an extremely low bar and a bad omen for the future of our education system. If being mistreated is part of a job, the people better be making enough money to live very comfortably AND have enough emotional upsides to the job to not instantly burn it. Less than that and you get what we have now: no one wants the job. I’m glad for this woman that she decided to make the right choice for herself.

[@jesskelley-madera4830]

@@maroonblue7064 Here’s the truth: people who have teaching skills will not sign up to be treated this way in the numbers needed unless they’re paid well. We can debate about whether or not it’s abuse if a kid says it - it’s not the point. The point is that for the small amounts of money these teachers make, it’s not worth doing the job to many when you can make more money doing far, far, less emotionally straining work. If we want teachers to be happy and to reduce turnover, their job needs to be easier or they need to be paid more than they’re being paid.

[@ChampagneandWaffles]

@@jesskelley-madera4830So accurate! It’s like that old saying for any product or service “Cheap, Fast, or Good - you can pick two but you can’t have all three.” We expect teachers to be well educated and qualified, committed to their students and schools, figure out how to educate children that may be not be willing or able to learn, tolerate verbal and sometimes physical assaults from their students, and for all of that, they get the privilege of earning a low salary and little respect. *Disclaimer - I am not a disgruntled teacher. I am a parent though who is 100% sure I would not have made a good teacher in the education system of a decade or so ago, and would not even last a day in today’s teaching environments.

[@medusa3083]

Found this podcast through KZbin shorts and am so impressed. The interviews of real people with such different life experiences has opened my eyes to the twisted reality of living a human experience.

[@smolcatloaf]

1:25:32 I’ve been a SPED teacher for 5+ years and I feel this so much. self-contained k-2 autism. the panini was the literal worst thing to happen to my classroom. ALL of my students are addicted to devices. behaviors are overwhelming. and, wow- the chronic sound all. day. long. I feel for the students who want to learn and feel genuinely safe. I’ve also developed several illnesses due to chronic stress and took extended disability because of my mental health. I love my students- I really do. and I know the student behavior isn’t their fault- they cannot help it. there is also not enough help and support from admin, behavior support, parents… but what about the mental and physical health for teachers? we are always being told “we need to help our students!” while also being told “you need to take care of your needs first!” while ALSO being told “you HAVE to be there for your students!” but THEN being told “it’s okay to take your personal days! that’s why you’re given 3 every school year! BUT THEN IF YOU’RE SICK TOO MUCH BECAUSE OF ALL THE STRESS OF EVERYTHING AS A TEACHER, the audacity of it all, they then tell you “maybe this isn’t the career for you.” this is not discussed enough at all. people need to be kind and empathetic to teachers.

[@apell5011]

I’m a teacher as well. Mostly students with Autism K-1 self contained. I’m curious how many students are on your caseload?

[@julisaortega5611]

I can definitely understand the point about children who deserve a safe environment to learn and not be traumatized by other students. My little brother has been diagnosed as bipolar and is that student who destroys classrooms, curses and all the other things. We try to just put him in regular classrooms for socialization but at what point is it harming others too much to try and help him, ya know? He is currently on medication, goes to therapy and talks to a psychologist every week so he has better days but I could never imagine how difficult it is being a teacher who has to calm the student in crisis. Thank you for everything you do.

[@hannaast]

Great video! I left teaching for the same reasons, and I have been in the same exact positions as her. It’s so hard to try to imagine the outbursts that a child can have and the school leaders are so desperate to ignore it and demand that the teacher deals with everything. Teachers aren’t taught how to approach any real, violent situations that consistently happen every day. Yet they are then required to take their teaching time to speak with therapists and psychologists to help one student that is causing so much trauma for a classroom of other kids. It’s heartbreaking on every side. Great video I absolutely felt her struggle. ❤

[@paigecarlson8782]

32:16 i’m only 30 mins in but i have to say, as a mother of a little girl who is in 1st grade my appreciation for teachers is through the roof! i’m not sure why she quit teaching just yet but it’s very clear this was her passion and she truly enjoyed working with children but physically couldn’t do it anymore. our teachers deserve more. a lot more:(

[@stacyr4768]

One of her students shot her with a gun , the story is on Google

[@byeteaching]

Thank you for addressing these mistakes head-on. It's refreshing to see someone discussing the challenges teachers face when transitioning careers.

[@ioanaploscaru3172]

Thank your for this!! I was a teacher for 7 years, in Romania. Basically, the same story happens there: lots of school and hard exams that you have to pass, loooooots of paperwork and planning to do everyday (plus extra courses every year, to keep yourself up to date with the new strategies), for such little money and with so little support. I quit when my students graduated from primary school, i couldn't take it anymore. I have my own child and family to support and emotional satisfaction doesn't pay the bills. Also, i missed on a lot of moments of my child growing up, because of the work load that sometimes kept me up until late at night.

[@rachels2560]

This is the reality of teaching in today's world and the same reason I left public school and went virtual. Heartbreaking and terrifying. Thank you for shedding light on this. Teachers are AMAZING.

[@racheltumey3315]

Parent of a student that has ADHD & ODD & is also on an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) & BIP (Behavioral Intervention Plan), our school has so many support staff for him. All of these support staff have specialized skills that they use in order to help children like mine. I agree, it isn't fair for the other students to have to deal with his outbursts and his accommodations. I also feel like so many parents think that the things that go on at school are enough to get them through their schoolwork, so it's enough, it's not. My student sees a psychologist once a month and a psychiatrist every other week. I hate that my child has to go to these places, don't get me wrong, but I also realize that he will need these skills to have a productive adult life. It wasn't fair to put all of this on to one person that wasn't even specialized in that area. These teachers are NOT their students' parents. This makes me sad that this is a job that she dreamed of doing and it crushed her.

[@emileepenney2251]

I was in school to be a high school FCS teacher, and i was supposed to graduate by the end of 2020, due to life and other circumstances i went a different route. This interview hit all the points i couldn’t explain clearly and hit every point as to why i couldn’t allow myself to choose that career path. Thank you for finding so many stories that can affect each and every one of us. I’ve learned so much through this channel!!

[@x77punk77x]

It’s a huge loss to public school systems and to society that teachers as caring and committed as this young woman are leaving the profession. Our culture and the deficits in our education systems that leave teachers in the lurch are a disgrace.

[@theresapittman205]

This has really opened my eyes about what teachers are dealing with, especially after the panini. The school boards are really setting teachers and students up for failure. Thank you for doing this podcast. I’m glad I forced myself to listen until the end.

[@jodie1779]

Everything she said happened in my old school too. At the end of the day we have to look out for ourselves. We can still be of service to others throughout life and not be in a classroom. Sending love to this former teacher and all the teachers out there. Don’t feel bad for taking care of you!!❤

[@iamthedaughteroftheking3704]

Yes girl! We should always be the light everywhere we go.

[@wenke787]

Thanks Dev for giving people the opportunity to talk on your podcast! I'm currently studying to become a primary school teacher while working also working as a substitute teacher. All of the things that your guest was saying apply to my experiences as well (even though I'm from Germany)! It's the best job in the world but it gets veryyy frustrating if you can't do 100% just because of the system or other people. My former principle said that the issues got worse over the last 15 years and that every new teacher has to decide for themselves if the job is worth everything… For me personally it is worth it but i can understand everyone who decides that it's not! Sending lots of love

[@jordansmith9176]

“This is what I was meant to do.” She does such a good job explaining… it’s the only thing I COULD do. But it’s almost like hearing funeral bells as you walk toward it- like making the conscious decision to be a martyr. Setting myself on fire hoping at LEAST the kids nearest to me won’t freeze to death… And then people call you a babysitter.

[@_politefrog_8892]

As a former teacher this hits so hard

[@tarsi00]

I moved to USA from Canada last year, and my child has been in pre-k for 2 years now. What goes on over here is insane compared to back in Canada when I was in school. I see a lot of the stuff she’s saying. I find at the school we are at, the staff don’t confront the parents enough. For instance, there’s twins in our class that the mom sends them with little to no food every day. And sends them in PJs. Footed PJs. That are usually worn from the night before. And I wish that the school would get on it with the parent. It’s uncomfortable but they should be telling them NO you can’t have your kids here in PJs. NO you can’t have your kids with no shoes and socks. NO you can’t drop your kid here with no food. And if the parent doesn’t fix the issues, report it up higher. Maybe there needs to be more social work programs INSIDE the school to make plans with the parents who need guidance. Instead, our poor teacher buys and brings food for these two kids. But now instead of starting with work in the morning, 45 minutes is spent with them eating breakfast in class. I feed my kid when we wake up. So it’s incredibly frustrating. I know the teacher is put in a tough spot but it’s like what is going on. This is a Christian private school.

[@tarsi00]

@rosygirl there needs to be something else that happens after that. Like a social worker who takes over the case and threatens parents to report it as child neglect or something I don’t know. Like the teachers shouldn’t be put in these awkward positions.

[@Lovelyasdfghjkl]

I spoke to a parent once who took her kid on vacation half way through the year for her brother’s wedding and when they came back her kid was always absent every couple of days. I confronted her saying it breaks my heart how much her peers have progressed while she’s behind and that it would really aid me in helping her catch up if she was attending school every day and she reported me to the principal and I got in trouble 😩 I don’t even know what I said that was wrong?!

[@tarsi00]

@@Lovelyasdfghjkl that’s terrible. This kind of stuff is going to come back to haunt us as a society because what are we teaching the kids? The brothers wedding is one thing but the constant absences is inexcusable. The schools need to push back on the parents who are lacking. It’s what’s best for the kids.

[@stevenpaz8838]

So sad there was no support! Teachers need to be appreciated more!

[@amerademeyer1106]

I'm a South African teacher in a super disadvantaged area and a week and a half ago i cracked and walked out of class. I appreciated this conversation so much and I feel that it can be dissected even more than this. The shit I deal with every day is literally destroying my physical and mental health and when I vent about it you get either ridiculed and deemed weak and or incompetent or in rare moments supported by a colleague or parent. I literally battle everyday with feeling like a borderline abusive failure because I'm responsible for shit getting done and I'm so tired. I'm so fricken tired.

[@alea2978]

My heart breaks for you. Hope you will find your peace. 😔 you deserve so much love and appreciation

[@yvonneyvonneable]

Teaching is a traumatic experience today. I left. You can find clients and tutor or homeschool, or so do something else.

[@becomingcasey]

I love this. I’m a teacher, and so much is true. Luckily my college did have us practice calling parents. I would agree behavior is something you just get thrown into

[@maricruzreyesss]

OH MY GOD AS A MOM AND SISTER IM ABOUT TO HAVE A TALK WITH ALL MY KIDS AND SIBLINGS. I don’t ever want my child to do any kind of this behavior at all period. I have so much respect for the teacher because sometimes my own child makes me pull own hair.

[@jamieb2052]

genuinely so eye opening and jaw dropping and she is an absolutely astounding human being

[@JillianDKelly]

I stumbled across this podcast around a month ago on my recommended page and absolutely LOVE IT! As a music education student, hearing about what our school systems look like right now is really important to make sure I can prepare myself for my future. Love this episode

[@ashleymoody172]

I work as a one on one teachers aide in an 8-1-1 kindergarten and first grade behavioral classroom. I would love to speak with you on my class. Our entire day is disruptive behaviors but all of our children have such challenging lives that affect them in school.

[@mcrandfoblover27]

As a teacher who graduated at the same time this is so refreshing to hear.

[@hannarose7073]

Thank you for sharing your story! As someone who recently withdrew from student teaching, this was extremely validating for my own experiences. Teaching was much more challenging than I anticipated going into the degree and I just really resonated with your story.

[@madisonltree]

I’m a preschool teacher, preschool, and we have people come in and watch us “coach” us, and observe us teach. It’s weird, uncomfortable and it happens a lot throughout each year. We get rated so a company comes in once a year and watches us and looks at our classroom. We have to do 15 hours of continued education every year. We take course and classes late at night some times throughout the year. And I get paid 16.75. In this economy I cannot afford to live if it wasn’t for my husband. I love my job, my boss, my school, my coworkers. The students are amazing, but the pay is horrible compared to the emotional, physical and mental toll it takes on us. And because of the pay, anyone can come in and be a preschool teacher and your paying for a body not for quality.

[@isabell_estelle]

As a mother of a child who starts school this coming fall this video really brought a lot to perspective and I have a whole new outlook and appreciation for teachers holy cow this whole story is wild wild wild.

[@shannonperez3779]

I’ve seen a lot of people on social media leaving the teaching career. I do genuinely believe we are under-supporting and massively overloading our Teachers.

[@artyart31]

I love this educator, she reminds me of my niece. She's a 5th grade teacher and this episode brought me to this pocast. 8 months ago.

[@luisaaaferrr3230]

Definitely, classroom management is everything. I remember my first campus was so easy to manage that it didn’t really teach me much. Later in my current campus I was dealing with a different group of kids and it was pretty tough. Now I love the kids and we have such a good vibe going in the classroom. I have 0 issues with classroom management these days. Ughhhhh on another note, last year was miserable!

[@heysmare9410]

Can’t believe the parallels between teaching and nursing. The struggles are nearly interchangeable

[@kingworm7168]

As a nurse I always say teachers are like our twins.

[@eehlohluell]

It's ridiculous that none of these kids are learning socialization first and foremost when that's the main foundation for being able to learn and have a learning environment to begin with. It makes me wonder, what were parents doing at home? How many of them actually sat down and supported their children's education at home? I can just imagine how awful it must have been for kids in abusive/neglectful households.

[@yvonneyvonneable]

Not even bad neighborhoods. These are screen kids from birth. It’s different now

[@carlgrimeseyepatch27]

I also believe I was meant to be a teacher, but from my minimal experience i had to step away completely. It was the most depressing and confusing and heartbreaking time of my life. All my hopes and good intentions were squashed by the system. I am in the process of seeking out a new career but all i wanted was to be a school teacher.

[@kingworm7168]

Nursing and teaching really are like fraternal twins. Look a little different but basically the same. Totally feel your heart break girl ❤️ just cried my eyes out on lunch today.

[@graceperrigo462]

I stopped teaching after multiple breaking points and I felt like I wasn’t making a difference anymore because of the lack of resources. Coming from a family of educators 3 generations in and being a previous teacher myself, I resonate so much with this episode.

[@berasart3437]

I was a teacher for a year after graduation and that was enough for me… I don’t live in the US but the things she talked about is pretty much a universal experience for teachers i guess. Private school teachers do get paid less and work more (at least in my country.) I was miserable, I felt like it wasn’t fair for students to have a teacher that did not want to be in the classroom. I had many students with behavioral issues and had no real support from the management, just some on the spot solutions that didnt lead to anything. I also switched to an office job and it honestly feels great to do my job and be done with it at the end of the day and just go home. I wanted to have a better learning envoirenment in my classroom, wanted to make it fun for everyone but it just isnt possible…

[@ranimannous8365]

As a fifth year teacher, this resonates with me❤ All my teachers, stay strong!

[@bleepbloop404]

DBT and other mental health education should be taught just like we have PE. It would have helped me and my peers Soooooososososo much when I was in school 10 years ago.. im not surprised things have gotten worse but this was really heart breaking to hear. :( something NEEDS to change.

[@WhenYoureAlexa]

It just really makes me sad. I’ve always loved kids and have such a value for knowledge and sharing the love of learning, especially history. And everyone I know has asked me “Why didn’t you become a history teacher?” And I was just lucky to have known these issues with teaching before I went to college. I wanted to be a teacher for as long as I could remember, but when I started looking into university, I knew I would end up miserable if I had a teaching job where I couldn’t really interact with kids, couldn’t have control over a lesson plan, didn’t get paid very well, and got very little respect from parents, children or administration.

[@isac6459]

This one hits close! I teach pre k and this year has been a mess. This is my last year I’ve decided bc the system at the core is rotten

[@Alexisblackheart252]

Sad 😢. Don’t give up. We need strong teachers.

[@breannab3610]

This is my story but in social work. I worked in it for almost 4 years and burned out so much because of the trauma and the amount of work. I’m in a completely different field now and I’m so much happier now!

[@sammmm1039]

Which field are you in now?

[@pabloescobarschanclas]

what field are you in now, may i ask? i’m currently in mental health and burning the hell out, i need a field change too.

[@breannab3610]

I now work in retail and I love it so much! The amount of people I connect with, both customers and coworkers, has been so fulfilling! And there’s so much less paperwork/documentation. I feel like I can leave work at work instead of it following me home.

[@RR-us1lt]

I was always told I should teach even as early as 7th grade, but I knew even then, watching one of my elementary teachers have a breakdown and cry in class and watching students swear/laugh at her and throw things when she turns around, it was unfortunately a path to self-destruction. If I cannot even stand the average person, I certainly wouldn't be able to stand their barely-raised children. Tutoring graduate students was great however, especially tutoring international students from countries with a high work ethic and respect like Japan.

[@cashyyvibez]

I was always told I would be a great teacher because of my ability to explain so well and my patience with kids. But my mom was a paraprofessional so I know the struggles of teachers from her and the teachers she worked under. I already am stressed with my job at a retail store and we make around the same amount and that is their career that they paid for and that’s so sad to hear and see. They are missing out on hood teachers bc some people just can’t deal with these kids who have parents now that don’t discipline and for not enough to fully cover you personally let alone build a classroom from scratch

[@naiyaalysia5152]

I honestly wanted to be a teacher because I love kids, but there are so many things that go on at home that affect child behavior and the education system is so broken. There are not enough resources to really help the kids struggling at home and there aren't enough resources for kids learning English as a second language or resources for kids who are behind. To make matters worse classroom sizes are way too many kids for one teacher and it really just ruins and burns out the teachers trying to manage in a broken system

[@samara2836]

A lot of those parents who are in denial are in denial because they are guilty of the things they accuse the teachers of. That’s why they write paragraphs trying to defend themselves and proof themselves when they weren’t even in question. Projection to subconsciously or consciously manipulate and gas light the situation.

[@amyvaldivia4899]

Hearing her story honestly gives me so much comfort that I am not alone in feeling that the education system is failing its students and teachers. About a year ago I was a Special Education teacher assistant and I love working with kids. My short time working there showed me how little teachers are supported by the system and leadership and its really disheartening. A lot of your story resonated with my experience working in the educational system, thank you for sharing!

[@taylormendenhall6024]

Idk if anyone will see this. But I just wanna say, as a parent of a child who was in Kindergarten in 2020, these teachers did EVERYTHING in their power to help them. I have always made a point to say please & thank you to her teachers every single time I speak to them. And I remember there was a situation where she came home saying her teacher “took her water bottle” and at first I felt defensive. Like I paid for a metal water bottle and it’s now taken? But I KNOW kids don’t listen half the time, so there had to be a reason for it! So I again reached out to her, saying please and just asking what happened, and it absolutely didn’t happen the way my daughter thought it did. Not that she lied about it, but just that she didn’t understand everything that had happened. I couldn’t imagine typing out an awful and threatening message to her teacher. Breaks my heart that so many have to deal with it every day.

[@ashleygallardo2458]

I’m an education major and a senior in college I graduate in May. I had a course solely on behavior issues how to handle them and classroom management. I think it really is such an important class to prepare teacher on how they are going to handle their students and their classroom

[@Brinalynn1]

Ik I’m just a person behind the screen but I love how genuine Devorah is, she’s so effortlessly herself. I watch a lot of podcasts & It’s hard to fathom all the 🚮 they have to deal with. Let alone It takes me two hours to edit a 9 sec Insta reel, maybe I’m just challenged. I love your podcasts, your passion shows !!🥰

[@mommybat2941]

It makes me so sad that there’s so many kids who obviously really need emotional help and therapy and they just won’t get it 😢

[@AB-jm9wx]

thankyou devorah i appreciate you so so much your having an impact on many lives that’s so beautiful

[@roxannegracee]

omg can I just say props to this woman, and all teachers! we are stronger than we get credit for, Hope she is doing well. Kinda wanna vent about my experience the past two years working in childcare so don't mind me over here lol I quit my job as a private school Pre-k teacher almost a year ago now, I definitely resonated with everything mentioned in this video. Never felt appreciated by admin, dealt with terrible tantrums and kids literally hitting, biting and spitting at my co-teachers and I daily. Many times due to understaffing (teachers quit left and right) we would have classrooms filled up with up to 25+ kids of ages 1-5 (which was WELL over the ratio Guidelines). Admin would not follow the guidelines of the state for almost everything, at times of state inspections they would drive us mad and switch us around our regular classes in order to fit in ratios they couldn't meet because they had open enrollment all year round and no space to fit the new students, and that's not even the half of it. Overall, it was a painful experience for me physically and mentally, to say the least, which is sad because I loved the children, and I always wanted to finish school and pursue the education field since I was a little girl. I soon realized how draining waking up to go to work everyday was and it was taking a huge toll on me. I'm still young and don't know exactly what's in store for me after making that decision but I'm trying and taking one step at a time. I honestly have not been so at peace in so long, I'm working from home now and it has been the most liberating experience. Just sad to hear how many other teachers decided to leave as well. If only we were heard and appreciated more. I hope any teacher out here is doing good, please remember to take care of yourselves and do not kill yourself over a job that does not appreciate you as an employee and a PERSON.

[@megannnscotttt]

this was so interesting. Now I’m interested in psychologists/therapist jobs perspective

[@swagpants876]

6:22 as a kid who went to private school for my elementary and half of my middle school career, private school is SO BAD when it comes to the real world . we were shielded from absolutely everything and i got bullied so bad because i wasnt rich or anything and i was on a scholarship . private school was my downfall before i even had the chance to climb .

[@maxdepuggle9481]

She’s right, private school teachers get paid less. Sometimes barely above minimum wage. They’re businesses and most private schools are breaking multiple laws and regulations to turn a profit.

[@juleslynn476]

I hung on every word. She perfectly summed up all the reasons that I left the profession, too.

[@Aristogeiton367]

From my experience children are violent when their parents are violent at home.. it doesn’t just happen out of nowhere, they learn it somewhere. And its impossible to take the time to unlearn those behaviours in a year when you’re not the direct parent.

[@User-yu8er]

No matter the cause, accountability is needed for the child and especially the parents. Otherwise the kid can absolutely destroy many other kids lives through trauma and bullying. No one seems to care anymore about protecting the innocence of kids from other kids who are causing harm. They excuse it due to age instead of getting them help and having some semblance of consequences for the parents + kid.

[@lolheytherejimmy]

the biggest thing i hear many teachers say, especially ECE teachers, is that they're so lucky to have a partner who makes enough money for them to live comfortably so they themselves can do what they love to do. i have been a nanny for many years and decided to finish my education as an ECE, but after 6 months decided i couldn't afford to do it. i am now on my last semester and am also studying in another field.

[@lanaroske2221]

In in Canada and our teachers have trained Educational Assistants in there classrooms to deal with this ! I’m one of them and these teachers need support Special Education programs are needed as well for different behavioral issues and disabilities

[@stargirldai]

I came across this channel 2weeks ago and I am extremely glad I did ❤❤

[@ashleya3858]

The school system expects every child to be at the same level and if they're not, then they expect the teacher to get them to that level. But It's hard to help the five 4th grade students who are reading at a 1st grade level when you also have to teach the other students. One of the issues is that the schools just keep passing the students, so they never learn the basics. I've taught high school students who couldn't read. My dad teaches and has students who cannot read or write, who don't turn in anything, and have a failing grade. The principal always tells him just to pass them.

[@pinkpugginz]

good ol no child left behind

[@mandytiefen9913]

I taught for 6 years and quit in 2021. I taught 35-45 kids in my class at a title 1 low income school.

[@brittanyzahn7939]

35-45 in ONE classroom!!? omg!!! That is insane! Did you have any aids?

[@kg-3]

What do you do now?

[@idisbrioso4645]

I worked as a teacher in both private and public sectors. The private schools pay less, and might demand more educational preparation. The public sector at least gives you benefits and union perks. The pay on both is not what should be considered a comfortable living wage. The level of emotional and physical fortitude one has to have to be able to survive the everyday challenges of teaching can not be expressed in a way a person who hasn't been there can understand. I suffer from a chronic illness, and I did not have the emotional or physical strength to continue teaching. Mind you, I was so good at it (as repeatedly said by coworkers, higher ups and parents at all places I taught) but that wasn't enough. It was eating me alive. So demanding, so exhausting, so very taxing, I couldn't go on. I still think kids are the best humans and I miss them so, so much. But my emotional and physical health, and family come first. And, I needed more money, too. Now I work at a totally unrelated field were entry level pays more than what I used to get payed hourly, which is maddening and ridiculous, but very telling about our society's priorities. Will I ever teach again? I hope not, honestly. After all the smoke has settled I have found I feel better and I'm in better mental place than I ever was when teaching.

[@kimberlyluna4116]

I would love to watch her channel where she shows teachers what activities she did with her classes. I also believe in hands on learning . Amazing story!!

[@toshagros7061]

Your story is nearly identical to my story. I taught for 10 years before leaving the classroom. Now, I teach, tutor, and do test prep classes from my home. Best decision ever. ❤

[@pfb74]

I know I was traumatized many times in my rudimentary stages of life that once I was in middle and high school, I showed my ahh all the time. I was a model student for the teachers I respected, but for the most part I just was wilding out. During my junior year I apologized to all the teachers I disrespected because I began facing my trauma at the time and realized a LOT of my behavior stemmed from it and not from me just being bad. I appreciate this episode and I'm glad she found better for herself!

[@paolaanimator]

Just saw this video and It reminded me when I got my BA for animation, I do office/studio desk job tasks just with more art/animation apps involved, I was considering learning a new skill and I saw the University heavily promoting students to get a Master's degree for teaching. I told myself I'd rather save up money and learn to code and get another degree or get certified in coding, over becoming a teacher because teaching looks so stressful. I already knew great teachers and professors who quits, so I'll know there will be more workload but still get less pay in the teaching field. I've mentored high school students for the summer and I still felt like it was a lot, so I knew teaching wasn't for me. I wish teachers gets higher pay, especially since I see that many teachers have a Masters degree yet doesn't get paid as well as other professions.

[@stephaniedutton2023]

Totally agree, behavior management is not taught and is a huge part of being teacher. So crazy how teachers are just expected to know what to do. Even in my student teaching it was expected I should know how to manage the class two weeks in. My experience is what got me to where I am now, not my expensive degree.

[@alley5730]

High school teacher here! (majored in english & secondary education) Its deffffinitely a myth that private schools are a "better education" or that they pay teachers more. In fact, because salaries aren't funded by property taxes in private teachers often get paid much less. As for the education, private schools don't have to abide by the same common core/state standards that public schools do, so there's a lot more room for the absence of important conversations. (EsPECIALLY in private catholic schools, but that's a different story...)

[@kimluarks2418]

My experience was total opposite for private school vs public school. Private school didn't care what we were doing, they got our money, and that's all that mattered. Public we were required to at least earn the grade we were given and required to take yearly competency exams.

[@yvonneyvonneable]

Just so you all know, this is the norm in every school across America (unless it’s very very very affluent) every single teacher has experienced this. She is not the only one but she is speaking out and that’s incredible! This is NOT normal.

[@DynamicBlondesMakeup]

current student teacher here and this couldn’t be more accurate. scary. i always wanted to be a teacher. it’s a scary world.

[@alyssashaffer5919]

Wow. This was super insightful as a student teacher in my final year of college currently doing full time at a school (5th grade). I have been thrown into classrooms with no knowledge of what the plan is for that day because of the desperate need for fill-ins. I definitely relate to the difficult behaviors, as well. I really hope things change for the better; I am super apprehensive thinking about my first year solo teaching. Thanks for this episode!

[@charliekelly7539]

You will be ok!!! U will do amazing

[@alyssashaffer5919]

@@charliekelly7539 thank you :)

[@brittanyzahn7939]

You got this!! Congrats to you and good luck :)

[@ioanaploscaru3172]

The educational process should be a partnership between the classroom teacher, all the other school staff that work with the child (social assistant, school psychologist, teaching assistant), the parents, the school leadership. They should all work together, as a team, not letting all the heavy weight to be carried by the teacher on their own. And ultimately, all this partners's goals should be focused towards the child's own good and wellbeing and success. Which is not the case for many of the people involved in this process.

[@luvxqu8414]

ive wanted to be a teacher for young kids forever but im from florida. Teaching is a mess here.

[@cecevine8719]

Don’t wanna be a teacher or anything, but I knew what she was talking abt a lot throughout this bc in middle school we had a student teacher. I give lots of respect to them. Especially ppl who do older grades. I haven’t seen one throughout my whole high school experience, and I’m now a junior so I’m sure they rly need ppl. My school district is struggling for teachers. I feel it’s partially bc of the respect issue.