Jen, Sharyn, and I start the show by discussing the latest education news, which, in this case, is what the proposed 10% budget cut might mean for schools (for me, it might mean retirement!) These could be the single biggest cuts to education in the history of California! Write your state representatives people and let them know we need to leave our schools out of this! I feel a fight coming on.
Teaching is a tough profession. I’m thinking now that many parents have been attempting to keep their own offspring on track, they may have a more valid picture of what we do every day, but times 30!
Teaching from home has its own set of issues, but today, we focus on all the little and not so little things teachers deal with in the classroom, which those who haven’t spent much time in a classroom may not realize. Little things like having time to go to the bathroom or deciding to go to work sick because it’s easier than calling for a sub. Or perhaps it’s that duty-free lunch we’re guaranteed that sometimes isn’t so duty-free (can you say, rainy day?)
This all started with a conversation about that lovely adage, “Those that can’t do, teach.” (stick a knife in my heart, ouch!) We hope this episode helps to show what we do, do and change that little phrase to something more like, “ Those that can’t teach, do something less important.” Ok, there are other jobs that are very important, but ummmm, I think they needed a teacher to get them to that job, right?
Don’t forget to comment and like us on Apple iTunes or your other listening platforms. It helps more people find our show and listen to our calming, dulcet vocal tones. Thanks for listening!
Please write to your legislators and ask them to consider cutting funds from other places besides education. I’ve included a template you can use
After you do your civic duty, take some of this off work time to find out what happened to that favorite teacher you had. Maybe you can drop them an old-fashioned letter, the kind with an envelope and stamp, remember those? Think how you’d feel if you got a letter like that.
If, after hearing today’s conversation, you have something to add to our list of things teachers do, but no one thinks about, add it to the comments on our website. We’d also love it if you added your suggestions of topics you think are important for people to know about teaching.
Finally, If you’re an educational reformer and would like to be a guest on our show to share your ideas for how public education can be made better, drop us an email.
A little side note: I made a rookie mistake this week when I forgot to click the record button for a nice 40-minute conversation. Hence, that final comment on the show today. Thankfully, Sharyn and Jen were forgiving of the fact I made them rerecord that section.
Ok, I’m done. Go write some letters…
Resources used in this episode:
- Billions in cuts proposed as California revenue plunges
- Main points of Gavin Newsom’s budget: State worker pay cuts, fewer tax credits, tapping reserves
- Teachers, Stop Saying You Work over the Summers
- Teachers Compensation — Fact vs Fiction
- I Get Paid for 180 Days of Work Each Year, but I Actually Work More Than 250
- Do Teachers Work Long Hours?
- Using the Restroom: A Privilege—If You’re a Teacher
- Teachers Work Nearly 11 Hour Days
- Educators seldom have enough time to do their business. What’s that doing to the state of learning? From The Atlantic
