What Georgia Educators are Facing
Being an educator in Georgia is no easy feat. The Georgia Partnership for Education came up with 10 problems that the field of education is facing in Georgia.
Of the issues specific to Georgia some stood out to me. Georgia has seen a trend of more and more teachers leaving the profession, and less and less teachers interested in joining the field of education. Districts have also been given more responsibility, and the demand for quality leadership has increased. Our high school graduates have not been soundly prepared for college (based on incompletion rates) and are ill-prepared for the workforce. Students in impoverished areas receive $1,200 less per student. Georgia also has about 10% of students with mental health issues that directly affect their school performance.
http://www.ajc.com/news/local-education/georgia-top-education-issues-2017/EUiJGHsurmxSYeNuowylpK/
In my experience as a Georgia educator, I feel these are genuine concerns. Many of the problems that our school faces is based on the attitudes of leadership, teachers, students, and parents. Before I became a teacher, many of the educators who mentored me advised that because I had potential, I should choose a profession that makes more money. Even my time as a teacher has been filled with administrators re-assessing the staffs' desire to stay in education.
Students have expressed the irrelevance of what is being taught in schools compared to what they will need to know when they leave. Many of my parents have treated school as a daycare, and do not want to be bothered with what their child is doing during "my time", or school time. I have even been told that I need to figure out how to deal with a child's chronic disregard for school and classroom rules. Last year I had 6 students with Individualized Education Plans that were already taking medication for mental issues.
Anyone experience similar challenges?
Of the issues specific to Georgia some stood out to me. Georgia has seen a trend of more and more teachers leaving the profession, and less and less teachers interested in joining the field of education. Districts have also been given more responsibility, and the demand for quality leadership has increased. Our high school graduates have not been soundly prepared for college (based on incompletion rates) and are ill-prepared for the workforce. Students in impoverished areas receive $1,200 less per student. Georgia also has about 10% of students with mental health issues that directly affect their school performance.
http://www.ajc.com/news/local-education/georgia-top-education-issues-2017/EUiJGHsurmxSYeNuowylpK/
In my experience as a Georgia educator, I feel these are genuine concerns. Many of the problems that our school faces is based on the attitudes of leadership, teachers, students, and parents. Before I became a teacher, many of the educators who mentored me advised that because I had potential, I should choose a profession that makes more money. Even my time as a teacher has been filled with administrators re-assessing the staffs' desire to stay in education.
Students have expressed the irrelevance of what is being taught in schools compared to what they will need to know when they leave. Many of my parents have treated school as a daycare, and do not want to be bothered with what their child is doing during "my time", or school time. I have even been told that I need to figure out how to deal with a child's chronic disregard for school and classroom rules. Last year I had 6 students with Individualized Education Plans that were already taking medication for mental issues.
Anyone experience similar challenges?
This is so sad and unfortunately something that like you said is across our state. Teaching is rewarding and not a profession that people get into for the money. Our students are one of the most rewarding things in life. I hope that you and all others in the class find a group of positive teachers to surround yourself with and see the joys of teaching every day. There are many hard days, but it is hard to walk out of the building without finding at least one joy.
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