Policy & Reform

In 2018, almost 400,000 teachers went on strike. From California to West Virginia, teachers are taking to the streets and to their state capitols to voice their unhappiness with work conditions, expectations, and pay.

2018 set records for the number of worker protests, largely due to the number of teachers engaging in strikes across the country. In 2019, 30,000 teachers in Los Angeles alone went on strike. This is because teachers are becoming increasingly frustrated with low budgets, stagnant salaries, and increasing workloads. Teachers are telling their local, state, and federal governments that education budgets are thinly spread and their wages have not improved over the past decade – and they have the statistics to prove it. To further explain why teachers are becoming more vocal with their criticisms of the education system, here are some of the most remarkable trends that illustrate why teachers are demanding attention from their officials.

Class Sizes

To understand the financial issues school systems are facing, it is important to look at budget trends before 2009 and after the Great Recession. Before 2009, there was an intentional effort to increase the number of teachers in schools as part of a movement to decrease classroom sizes. Smaller class sizes give teachers more time for instruction, and less time is spent working on paperwork, grading, and data collection. Smaller class sizes are also directly tied with better learning outcomes for students. This effort was successful until the financial crisis hit in 2009. However, in the years since the crisis, the trend has reversed.

Per-Pupil Spending

In several states like Texas, Georgia, and Florida, per-pupil spending is at lower levels than before 2009. Additionally, in Arizona and Kansas, per-pupil spending has decreased by almost 15% since 2009, while in larger states like Texas and Florida, per-pupil spending has decreased by almost 10%. The effects of low per-pupil spending put a strain on teachers’ pockets – the lack of resources provided by the school causes educators to spend more out of their salary. Moreover, lower spending also correlates with lower student performance. A study completed in Kansas found that a “1 percentage point increase in graduation rates is associated with a 1.2 percent increase in costs in lower grades and a 1.9 percent increase in costs at the high school level.”

Salaries

Salaries for educators have declined, for both new and experienced teachers. Across the country, the average teacher’s salary is down to $58,950 from $61,804. Teachers receive an average of 17.6% less than professionals in similar fields. For example, in states like California with high living costs, teachers are taking on roommates, living with families or even commuting over two hours to avoid the high rent in their school districts. Teachers’ salaries have not grown significantly since the Great Recession.

While the economy has recovered since 2009, education budgets in many states have remained the same or decreased. Teachers are seeing the effects of these policies in their classrooms every single day – in the form of larger class sizes, lower salaries, and education inequity. Teachers invest their time, energy, and money into creating opportunities for all students to learn and be successful. Now, they are demanding that their legislators return the favor by passing fair and modern education policies.

When asking the question “what do you think teachers do?” to individuals who are not involved or know someone involved in education it wouldn’t be too uncommon for a response to solely feature the answers of teaching kids, grade papers, and call parents. Some might be able to throw in a few extra responsibilities such as coaching, leading a club, or afterschool tutoring.

Those in education know that the list goes on much longer than that and is precisely why teachers’ level of stress and burnout seems to be at an all-time high with 44% of new teachers leaving the classroom within 5 years. What has caused the responsibilities of the classroom teacher to have seemingly ballooned up over the last few decades?

What ARE the Responsibilities of Teachers? 

A teacher in a stereotypical school will have, but not limited to, the following responsibilities:

1. Teach (with varied and scaffolded instruction)
2. Grade
3. Call Parents
4. Attend Individualized Education Plans (IEPs)
5. Extracurriculars
6. Staff Meetings
7. Monitor Hallways
8. Curriculum Development (lesson plans, units, assessments, etc.)
9. Submit Data/Reports to Administration
10. Have the Classroom Observed by Administration
11. Professional Development
12. Mandated Reporters
13. Model Health Habits and Behaviors
14. Implement Successful and Varied Classroom Management Strategies
15. Pursue Higher Degree (typically for teaching license renewal)
16. Department Meetings
17. Various School Functions
18. Clean Classroom
19. Purchase School Supplies 
    

The above are the basic framework of the job of teachers. When looking at this list, the results of a study done by Keith Herman of the University of Missouri found only 7% of teachers were classified as low stress, 30% had moderate levels, and 60% had high levels. In a statement regarding his study, Herman states:

“We as a society need to consider methods of […] finding ways for administrators, peers, and parents to have positive interactions with teachers, giving teachers the time and training to perform their jobs, and creating social networks of support so that teachers do not feel isolated.”

Finding the Problem

What is interesting about this problem is that teachers in other high-achieving countries (Norway, Sweden, South Korea, Germany, etc.), but also in lower-achieving countries such as Kosovo that only report 33% of teachers are high stress, don’t report anywhere near as high levels of stress.

When surveyed about what are the primary stressors for teachers, respondents to Chris Kyriacou’s study Teacher Stress and Burnout: An International Review they listed student behavior, attitude, work ethic, school-based assessment systems, too many deadlines, not enough resources, pressure from administration, and constant expectations of immediate results/responses to requests for information/behavior report as specific stressors in the job.

There is no easy solution. A blanket shifting of certain responsibilities of teachers onto someone else, especially when school systems are already having funding problems, is not feasible. The problem stemmed from a slow creep of tasks that the teacher needs to adhere to in the modern education system. It cannot simply be pruned back. 

Until some sort of fix, to a however small degree, is found teachers will continue to be a part of some of the highest stress jobs available to the detriment of them, their students, their schools and their country. Teachers are the foundation of the future. 

Teaching is an important and rewarding career, but it can also be draining and exhausting. Teaching is arguably harder now than ever before for many reasons, including student behavior, rapidly changing technology, and low pay. This article will explore several of the reasons that teaching has become such a challenging profession.

Disruptive behavior

Student behavior can be a serious problem for teachers at some schools. While the majority of students are well-behaved, the handful of students that are violent, aggressive, loud, and disruptive not only compromise teachers’ ability to teach, but also the safety of teachers and other students. There are constant reports of students physically attacking teachers, but teachers are hesitant even to defend themselves for fear of getting fired and having their teaching license suspended or revoked. 

School shootings

Gun violence from students or people outside of schools is a real and daily threat for students and teachers. School shootings are on the rise and many educators feel unsafe every day they go to work. There has yet to be an effective intervention to prevent gun violence in schools, and it causes many teachers to transfer schools or switch which grade level they are willing to teach. 

Technology

While new advances in technology can certainly support learning, it is a challenge for teachers to keep up with constant changes. Schools have come a long way from the chalkboards of the past. Teachers now must learn to use Smartboards, different types of computers, calculators, and more. Teachers also have to adapt to changing methods of technological communication with students, parents, administration, and other faculty. 

Cell phone use in the classroom is a huge challenge for teachers to overcome as well. Students of all ages have their own cell phones now, and it can be very difficult to enforce school policies regarding cell phone use, keep students on task, and prevent cheating through technology. 

Low pay

Low pay affects teachers in many ways and can make it difficult for them to effectively do their jobs. Many teachers are forced to take second or even third jobs just to make ends meet, so more of their time outside of the classroom is spent working at other jobs. This leaves teachers depleted and gives them little time to get any work done at home. 

Life-work balance

Even assuming that teachers only work one job, it is very difficult to keep a balance between life and work. Many teachers feel personally responsible and invested in their students and devote extra, unpaid time to ensuring their success. After a standard workday, many teachers stay late to tutor students, grade papers, or prepare for the next day since they are always with students and don’t have time during the school day to take care of these responsibilities. Teachers take work home often as well, so they never really get to take a break. 

These are just a few of the many obstacles teachers face. Educators need more support from administrators, lawmakers, and parents to be able to do their jobs effectively. The more society invests in teachers, the more it invests in children and the future. 

With every indicator pointing to a sector in shambles, and academic performance of students alarmingly plummeting over the years, many stakeholders have increasingly laid the blame at the feet of the students. But in reality, should we hold these students, the victims of a failed system, accountable for the rot which has affected our education system? My definite answer is no. the school has been failing kids in several ways which require urgent attention. Here are some of the ways in which the school system has been failing students;

School promotes dogmatism/conditioned reasoning

One of the greatest disservices that school has done to students is its enduring penchant for limiting the creativity of students. Standardized tests give students the impression that there is only one correct answer to a problem and therefore they have to work towards a single answer which has been predetermined by the teacher. This means that the students, as a matter of necessity, must see from their teacher’s perspective.

They rely exclusively on what they have been taught and follow this exact pattern of work. The continuity of this system has gravely impacted the creativity of students as many do not see any need to think outside the box when they know that the brightest student, after all, is the one who can regurgitate what has been taught in class during exams.

Schools employ obsolete methods to teach

Due to the now archaic and outdated methods employed in imparting knowledge, kids now find school to be a boring and tedious necessity. Some of the courses which schools offer are now irrelevant in this digital world of ours. Hence school is not necessarily serving its purpose of preparing kids for the future.

Schooling environment is hostile

The school does not promote teamwork among school children. They are discouraged from helping themselves out academically but are rather made to see their colleagues as rivals and competitors, rather than as friends. Hence, they grow up lacking the skills needed for cooperation and teamwork.

In addition to this, it is rather perplexing to know that some states legalize the meting out of corporate punishments to keep students in line. Students are trained to be fearful and submissive.

School does not acknowledge differences in students

A class usually has about 30 students. These students, with different rates of assimilation and academic capabilities, are being taught the same thing at the same rate without due consideration to assimilation and brilliance. The clever ones understand the concept quickly and become uninterested when the teacher stays too long on that topic, while others in the class would not have grasped the topic by the time the teacher moves on to another topic. A conflict of interest would arise should the teacher try to pay attention to this disparity in the rate of assimilation.

Conclusion

The points highlighted here are just but a few of the hydra-faced challenges facing kids in school. The school has been systematically letting students down by failing to teach them the requisite skills needed to navigate this competitive world of ours.  It is therefore, and as a matter of urgency, necessary for the school system to be revamped so as to enable it to breed great future leaders for our country.

Something that everyone can agree on is that there is always something that can be improved when it comes to our educational system. We all want our students to succeed and be the best that they can be. When our students succeed, society thrives.

The question then becomes, what are the best policies for success, and who exactly is qualified to make these policies?

How policy is typically made

Frequently policy is made behind closed doors. This is done by educators and experts. While educators should certainly have insight and input into policy, it is the “experts” that are questionable. The experts are not questionable because of their qualifications. They are often very qualified on a particular subject or topic area. The disconnect tends to happen because the expert may not have real-world experience with their area of expertise.

In today’s ever-connected and global world, it is perhaps time to rethink how policy is made and how issues are considered. Some people feel that it is not practical for policy to be written to help prevent students from dropping out of school by people who have never dropped out themselves. The same can be said for schools in areas that serve people of color primarily- a white person may not be the best expert at writing policy for them.

What is a better approach?

Perhaps a better approach to creating policy would be to include the people and students it’s meant to serve.  If schools are interested in pupil retention, then maybe policymakers should talk to those who have dropped out. Asking them questions and talking to them about their experiences and what would have been helpful, can go a long way towards creating a new, more effective policy.

Likewise, for creating policy in certain areas, such as rural farms or areas that serve people of color predominantly, the experts should consider talking to that specific population. It can only be helpful to speak to people and students that live in these areas. After all, these people know better what issues and challenges they face daily than policy maker experts.

Perhaps each school, or at the very least each school district, should consider adding a panel of local experts. These local experts would consist of the people that are most representative of the school.  It should be current students, former students, and those in the community.

How to bring it all together

Obviously, there are government standards that must be met in all schools. This is a policy that cannot be changed. However, it is possible for local districts to customize these requirements for their specific populations.

School districts would benefit by arranging to have a community group that works with the experts. Having the policymakers listen to the unique needs of a school can help them see the bigger picture. Then they can work together to come up with a customized policy that meets the social and cultural needs of their students. With this dependable community support, students will have a greater chance at academic success.

If you have been following my work over the last decade and a half, then you have read my writings on education reform, and how the U.S. education system can improve its effectiveness. During this time, I have read almost every article and book on the subject, to be well informed. However, one area of education reform that seems to receive the least amount of attention is the role that students can play in the process.

In the pursuit of education reform and school improvement, we often leave the opinions of this important group out of the equation, believing that the adults in the room have the most nuanced perspectives on the subject. This is a big mistake, as students hold the missing puzzle piece to effective and sustained school improvement. They know what works, what doesn’t work, and with this information, we can effectively transform the U.S. education system. And just think, we have been looking for the answer, and it was one missing data set away.

Think about it. If we combine the expertise and insight of administrators, teachers, parents, and students together, we can create an education system that can prepare all students to compete in the global economy.

So how do you gather the data that we need from our students?

1. Surveys – One of the most efficient ways to gather data is via a survey. In this survey, we should ask students pertinent questions about the teaching and learning process, school culture and climate, race relations, high stakes tests, and discipline, at their school. I would stay away surveys that only ask multiple choice questions. Make sure you include fill in the blank, and essay questions, to allow students to express themselves. The great thing about surveys is that you can make them anonymous, which will increase the likelihood that students will speak freely. The survey should be administered yearly, and more frequently, if needed.
2. Forums – Host a forum for each K-12 grade level, and ask students questions about the teaching and learning process, school culture and climate, race relations, high stakes tests, and discipline, at their school. Have someone to record their answers. Make sure you create an environment where students feel free to speak their mind, without fear of backlash from teachers, parents, or administrators. One way to accomplish this is to make the forums student-led. I would choose students who are leaders amongst their peers, and as a result, garner respect and trust. Forums could be held a minimum of twice a year, to maximize their effectiveness.

Once you have the data that you need, you can use it to bolster your school improvement efforts. Students will be thrilled to see some of their suggestions being implemented, which will motivate them to engage in their studies fully, and place more trust in the educational process.

What do you think? Is student voice and perspective the missing link in the education reform process?