My mom was a teacher here...40 years. Teacher of the Year in Pinellas. Union Rep. Still talks with many if her teacher friends. It's a hostile work environment. It's started with Jeb long ago like swampbabe said. It is far worse now. The juice isn't worth the squeeze.
It's certainly a major consideration, esp. in states like FL and TN and getting worse before it gets better. Is it the tipping point? I don't think so, but for some it will be. Imagine being a gay or trans teacher in FL or TN. No thanks, I'll opt for the Walmart greeter gig or another profession with much less stress. Here's another factor: Because of their love for kids and often their discipline, teachers take work home differently than do people in other professions. That's a big can of worms and some will not agree, but I believe it to be true.
Where is the union in all this? Observationally, there seems to be WAY too much red tape and administration. To me, it seems the funding model should be inverted, give more to the schools with lower results, fewer interested teachers, and those with more kids from troubled backgrounds. Go GATORS! ,WESGATORS
Here’s an example of where we are. I have a friend who resigned from teaching. Her reason was she stuck out her hand to slow down a student who was running in the hall. The student punched her in the face, and then kicked her in the abdomen. She happened to be pregnant at the time. Needless to say the kick caused her to miscarry. The student was labeled as emotionally disturbed, so he wasn’t punished but she was called in and reprimanded for causing the incident. She quit almost immediately and went to law school. The scary thing is now in some states she would be charged with the murder of the fetus. Why would anyone in their right mind want to be in a profession with so much liability, and so little benefit?
I can only speak of here in central Florida. My wife was a teacher for over 20 years, she couldn’t take it anymore. Nothing to do with don’t say gay, lol. It’s how every year they changed how they wanted them to teach. For test scores, which many of them didn’t agree with the tests. It’s political entirely, but not necessarily a side. If they’d just let them teach they’d be fine. She started losing her drive about 8-10 plus years ago. When she finally ran out of f..ks she couldn’t do it anymore
Despite what gets posted on these boards, teacher unions in this state are as useless as tits on a bull. The funding model is a function of the state and was championed by Bush, including FCAT, A school money, evaluating teachers based on test scores. Why would a teacher CHOOSE to go to a school serving low income, academically challenged students? Better to go to a school serving upper middle class neighborhoods with better resources. Teachers gotta eat, too.
Florida Education Association says state has 5,000 education vacancies This is from last year. I wonder if anybody has informed Andrew Spar (President of FEA) that the union should serve to connect the dots between what teacher's want and exactly how the communities can help. Spell it out in detail. Highlight the top few issues that teachers would like to see addressed. Which issues do parents/voters need to go to the school about; which issues do parents/voters need to go to the district about; which issues do parents/voters need to go to the state about. To me, the big problem with nothing being done is because most people are not aware of the issues and/or unsure of who these issues should be addressed with. Until or unless that happens, why would anybody expect any changes? Go GATORS! ,WESGATORS
Found this article. Problem is not unique to Florida by any means. As a nation we need to seriously consider what we ask of our teachers
My mom got punched trying to break up a fight on lunch duty. Don't mess with mom. So sorry that happened
Because no one cares what the classroom teacher thinks, bottomline. Everything is top down and that is true for the legislature, the state DOE, and district administration. Your site administrator MAY have some leeway but that is obviously dependent on the principal.
They can’t get applicants for teachers or police. Hiring people they wouldn’t a few years ago and running short staffed. Just like bar tenders and they make more money. I thought Jeb did several good things for education. A bit heavy handed, but had to do something to break mediocracy. Now the charters was the chip for those rich christians to support the other stuff. Ymm
Harnessing the mobs so they can say it is not us it’s the will of the people. Hmm, where have we heard this
One of the CCDF leaders lives down the road from me. He always seemed like a level headed guy until Trump. Now he’s seemingly off the deep end and showing up at county commission meetings and school board meetings injecting BS right wing crap into everything, even our upcoming school board elections.
