Teachers deserve more respect

Think back to your favorite teacher, whether it was from elementary, middle or high school. What was it that you appreciated about them?

Whether it was them taking the extra time during lunch to tutor you, listening to your needs or making fun and engaging activities for the class, you can understand the amount of strength and effort teachers need to put in to make a lasting impact on their students.

You would think with all the sweat, tears and money teachers lose for educating the future generations, they would be given proper compensation through pay and appreciation from parents and administration, right?

Alas, you’d be very wrong. With the state of the world now, it is no wonder that teachers are currently leaving at an alarming rate. If you have been keeping up with the news, you will likely have heard of the nationwide teacher shortage that is creating major issues in our education system.

Social media and the “Teacher Quit-Tok” movement is also assisting in bringing to light the alarming issues that are plaguing the classrooms, like behavior, declining student and teacher mental health, school safety, lack of funding and resources, substitute and special-education shortages, low pay and unfair treatment of teachers. The 2020 COVID pandemic certainly did not make any of this easier, as teachers were given limited time and preparation to switch to online learning.

In addition, laws and restrictions are currently being put in place that make it nearly impossible for teachers to teach about accurate history, literature and important topics on human rights like racial justice or the LGBTQ+ community that make students feel represented and empowered.

There are teachers out there that are trapped in a box, constantly feeling they are either not doing enough or that they’re “indoctrinating” their students. It’s simply a mess out there. My “For You” page on TikTok and Instagram is flooded with vidoes of teachers in tears, talking about how they dread going into the classrooms because they do not feel valued or appreciated.

It breaks my heart every time to see these teachers, new and veteran, lose their spark for inspiring and educating the future generations that they started with. As I am currently studying to be a teacher, I have been asked by many people why I’m still going through with it.

The truth is, I honestly don’t know, and my future seems terrifying at the moment. There is some driving force inside of me that is telling me to keep going.

The world needs teachers, and because these issues are being brought to light, we are now given the power to do something about it. I am inspired by the teachers and mentors around me that are fighting back and raising awareness of this lack of respect and dignity that is in the education system. It’s giving me hope that change is possible for the future.

I never will be able to comprehend why many teachers, as well as those in other important professions, can be treated so poorly with only a limited amount of resources to support them and their students. As you witness the effects the teacher shortage has on our country, try to remember that these teachers are human beings with lives and emotions.

So show them some grace and patience during this time of uncertainty. Think back on those teachers who made a difference in your life and reflect on what you can do to support teachers now.

Make sure to research who you are voting for in the upcoming election and see what their plans are to support educators as well. The students and educators of the future need help, and it is up to us to remind those in power of the impact teachers have on our world.