Teacher concerns?

Question

what are some concerns for teachers today?

Answer 1

So many concerns, I don't know where to start.

-Kids who don't have support at home- don't know basic info that should be taught by mom and dad.

-Kids with behavior issues- unable or unwilling to listen, cooperate, put forth effort, not able to solve problems without violence.

-Kids who are sleepy, hungry or not wearing clean clothes that are appropriate for a school setting and the weather. ( I could care less about uniforms.)

-Parents who are not supporting the school by supervising homework and encouraging appropriate behavior. (Don't give your kids permission to fight!)

-Administrators who haven't taught for more than 30 minutes,for years. They sometimes have unrealistic expectations for certain situations.

-Administrators who create more paperwork for teachers while insisting that it isn't "another layer" of responsibility.

-Colleagues who don't have a high level of  committment to the job.

-Government officials, who have never been educators, making policies that are inappropriate &/or unrealistic. Walk a mile in my shoes before you create mandates. I would never try to tell a doctor how to treat his patients. Why are lay people telling teachers how to teach?

I have been teaching in an urban setting for 30 years and I love  my job when I'm given the support and tools I need.

Answer 2

I agree with BH.  It seems like the responsibilities of teachers rises while those of students and parents decreases.  Its a headache and probably explains why the average teacher leaves the profession after 3-5 years.  Sometimes I feel like they want us to become magicians or something because thats the only way we can get what they want done.  And as soon as the students don't do what others expect them to do its the teachers who get blamed for it.  In my district they have started putting pay on the students state test scores.  Your students do well you get paid more, your students do bad you make the same, your students do bad the next year and then your job is questioned.  It just unfair to me, thats my concern.

Answer 3

As someone who has taught high school for many years, I can say that the general perception toward teachers concerns me.  For example, I just found the following question on Yahoo:  "Why are all teachers the same?"  Kind of a loaded question. Among other things, there is definitely a negative perception of teachers as "authority figures."  It seems many students feel they can say or do what they want in a school or classroom that they would not do at home.  That belief is fed by the perception that teachers can't do anything about it, and there is some truth to it.  You don't have to search too hard to find an example of a teacher not being "backed up" by administration, parents, or the board on a disciplinary issue.  Added to this, the list of what teachers are responsible for is growing as the list for what students are held responsible for shrinks.  These are a few general concerns that many teachers might share.  If many teachers feel this way, however, I don't think it really makes them "all the same."  There will always be differing styles, philosophies, and beliefs among teachers (which is probably a good thing).

Answer 4

Having to prepare our students to take state test after test rather than preparing them for real life :o(

The bureaucracy in public education is what makes it difficult - the students are the only ones who make teaching worth it!