We need to get iPads and video games out of kids hands - but then we need to change culture to allow parents proper time to engage with them, instead of the Sisyphean effort of economic reality. We all need long hard conversations about our culture.
A lot of these comments feel like they're agreeing with you and then blaming you for the problem instead of realizing that the system is broken. I wouldnt take these people's thoughts seriously at all.
There is a reason I cannot handle being a teacher. I’m comfortable as a substitute, even then, I have my challenging days. As the years pass, there are fewer incentives to becoming a teacher. I said no. Every district I have ever worked for is enduring a shortage of teachers. The problem isn’t with us. It’s with the higher ups that make it more difficult. It’s also with parents.
I home school and I have nothing but love for all the teachers I know ! It’s crazy hard to teach 28 plus kids ! I only teach 2 ! People really have no idea the work that teachers put in ! It’s also a thankless job . People expect teachers to work for free and love it .. it’s madness
I wanted to be a math teacher but my grandpa warned that although it was an honorable career the pay was not worth the hassle. I went with Accounting instead and so glad I did.
I love your thoughtfulness. It takes an enormous amount of strength and courage to step back from your life and re-imagine your future. I 'm looking forward to more of your posts.
Two of these comments touch on some truth. During my first couple of years as a teacher, I worked many more hours than I was paid for. This is somewhat normal in the field because you have to create your teaching tools and learn how to be organized. But after that, let's say around the five-year mark, a teacher should be able to avoid working extra hours. I managed to do it, but it meant that some tasks weren’t getting done, and I had to be able to accept that. The second comment concerns the changing family structure, with kids now often being raised by women. The issue is not the presence of women, but the absence of fathers. I challenge anyone in the school system to calculate the percentage of children with severe behavioral challenges who have an absent parent due to divorce, prison, addiction, etc. I am sure it's at least 80%, but nobody dares to talk about it.
I'll talk about it! I 100% agree with this statement. I can teach ANY subject, to any age group. I cannot teach basic skills, behaviors and needs, that should have been learned at home. I spent 70% of my class time filling out paperwork on kids and just getting kids to act right. Non educators have no clue.
Exactly! It's a huge issue. So much statistics showing the benefits of having a father and a mother. But many of the behavior issues are particularly linked to the absence of a father.
You are very well spoken and thoughtful in your responses. I do worry that you are taking uninformed, mean, attention seeking comments a bit too seriously, especially the "generation raised by mothers" comment. A lot of people just want attention or are just ignorant in their beliefs and sometimes its better to leave those comments be.
That's a great observation and probably true. I'm new to this whole youtube thing, but I also want to make sure comments like that don't go unaddressed. Thanks for giving me some perspective!
I'm not a teacher, but have been interested in it and thinking a lot about how it could change for the better. I think the good teachers need to be paid more and given plenty of support. And most teachers who aren't really passionate or engaging, should just be teacher support and aids. Because in my experience that's the majority of teachers. Maybe 1 in 5 are passionate and engaging.
Change for the better? I started teaching in 1990 and it was a hard job with all the points except not as much of the disrespect thing. I retired in 2011. NOTHING got better. Just worse and worse. Toward the end, my students (high school) told me they would never go into teaching because they saw what I went through. The "you have to try better; you have to try something different" mantra is unrealistic. We were constantly trying harder and constantly trying to find a better way to help students. Worse and worse. You cannot imagine what it's like UNLESS you have taught in a public school, and mainstream classes, not the super smart, motivated kids, or the special needs kids when you have a handful of kids instead of 100+ every day. You just can't get it.
I’m a 55 year old woman with higher level degrees who eould love to step into high school teaching but I can’t because if degree requirements and I couldn’t pay my mortgage.
Hey Steve! Next time, do you mind reading the comments aloud when you display them? I like to listen instead of watch and it was a little hard to follow.
I’m a teacher (year 4), and I have never lied to my students. Every day it’s a struggle to overcome- it’s a tough profession, and it takes a big heart to keep doing it.
I agree with a lot of what you're saying, but I have to disagree about the 'generation raised by mothers' comment. I think you might be misinterpreting the comment as an insult to mothers and their ability to parent. I see how it can be read that way, but I don't think that was the intent. I interpreted it as a criticism of the situation itself, that of single parent households. If anything, I think the blame for that might go to the fathers just as much as it goes to mothers. Regardless, when a divorce/breakup happens, it's almost always the case that the mother gets custody, if not sole custody. The reason for that is multilayered and needs a different conversation, but that is the end result. The impact of this, especially on men, is immense. Fathers are the authority figure in the home. They enforce rules, teach discipline, and show you what a mature man should act like in society. Sounds a lot like what lacking in the schools now.
The problem with people today, go for all all genders but especially men-you will know why below: Is that people are no longer know how to co-exist with one another. They’re lack empathy, and compassion, and the ability to compromise and adapt, which is why they cannot coexist.
Just wanted to leave a comment in general support of your response to the mother’s comment. The idea that all children would be better off just because of their father being in their life is just incorrect. Everyone could benefit from having father-figures or good male role models (most of mine were my teachers actually!) but to put this on being raised primarily by a mother? Again, I generally agree with your response.
What do you mean it's just incorrect? Is it just a coincidence that fatherless children are way less successful and more likely to end up in prison? It's statistically undeniable that having a father is a huge advantage to children.
Thank you for speaking up for teachers. We are one of the most bashed and misunderstood professions.
It's hard to understand unless you've done it.
We need to get iPads and video games out of kids hands - but then we need to change culture to allow parents proper time to engage with them, instead of the Sisyphean effort of economic reality. We all need long hard conversations about our culture.
A lot of these comments feel like they're agreeing with you and then blaming you for the problem instead of realizing that the system is broken. I wouldnt take these people's thoughts seriously at all.
That’s people for you !
There is a reason I cannot handle being a teacher. I’m comfortable as a substitute, even then, I have my challenging days. As the years pass, there are fewer incentives to becoming a teacher. I said no. Every district I have ever worked for is enduring a shortage of teachers. The problem isn’t with us. It’s with the higher ups that make it more difficult. It’s also with parents.
Society has no idea what we do. It is very nice to hear your thoughts.
I home school and I have nothing but love for all the teachers I know ! It’s crazy hard to teach 28 plus kids ! I only teach 2 ! People really have no idea the work that teachers put in ! It’s also a thankless job . People expect teachers to work for free and love it .. it’s madness
I wanted to be a math teacher but my grandpa warned that although it was an honorable career the pay was not worth the hassle. I went with Accounting instead and so glad I did.
Well maybe you could sign up to Tudor ! Parents who homeschool are always looking for extra help. A side hustle
I love your thoughtfulness. It takes an enormous amount of strength and courage to step back from your life and re-imagine your future. I 'm looking forward to more of your posts.
Two of these comments touch on some truth. During my first couple of years as a teacher, I worked many more hours than I was paid for. This is somewhat normal in the field because you have to create your teaching tools and learn how to be organized. But after that, let's say around the five-year mark, a teacher should be able to avoid working extra hours. I managed to do it, but it meant that some tasks weren’t getting done, and I had to be able to accept that.
The second comment concerns the changing family structure, with kids now often being raised by women. The issue is not the presence of women, but the absence of fathers. I challenge anyone in the school system to calculate the percentage of children with severe behavioral challenges who have an absent parent due to divorce, prison, addiction, etc. I am sure it's at least 80%, but nobody dares to talk about it.
I'll talk about it! I 100% agree with this statement. I can teach ANY subject, to any age group. I cannot teach basic skills, behaviors and needs, that should have been learned at home. I spent 70% of my class time filling out paperwork on kids and just getting kids to act right. Non educators have no clue.
Exactly! It's a huge issue. So much statistics showing the benefits of having a father and a mother. But many of the behavior issues are particularly linked to the absence of a father.
Nice responses. I do want to say it's possible some of the comments are just trolling.
Thanks for letting me know! I'll try to keep that in my mind moving forward.
You are very well spoken and thoughtful in your responses. I do worry that you are taking uninformed, mean, attention seeking comments a bit too seriously, especially the "generation raised by mothers" comment.
A lot of people just want attention or are just ignorant in their beliefs and sometimes its better to leave those comments be.
That's a great observation and probably true. I'm new to this whole youtube thing, but I also want to make sure comments like that don't go unaddressed. Thanks for giving me some perspective!
@TheMidlifeDropout keep going on your journey. I find your stories very engaging and relatable, especially when it comes to teaching
I'm not a teacher, but have been interested in it and thinking a lot about how it could change for the better.
I think the good teachers need to be paid more and given plenty of support. And most teachers who aren't really passionate or engaging, should just be teacher support and aids. Because in my experience that's the majority of teachers. Maybe 1 in 5 are passionate and engaging.
Change for the better? I started teaching in 1990 and it was a hard job with all the points except not as much of the disrespect thing. I retired in 2011. NOTHING got better. Just worse and worse. Toward the end, my students (high school) told me they would never go into teaching because they saw what I went through. The "you have to try better; you have to try something different" mantra is unrealistic. We were constantly trying harder and constantly trying to find a better way to help students. Worse and worse. You cannot imagine what it's like UNLESS you have taught in a public school, and mainstream classes, not the super smart, motivated kids, or the special needs kids when you have a handful of kids instead of 100+ every day. You just can't get it.
Appreciate your insight in this clip on teaching. Everything you said about the profession is spot on.
Everything you are saying is right on target. I'm a 27 year veteran. The profession has become soul crushing.
Very well presented. Very eloquently answered
I’m a 55 year old woman with higher level degrees who eould love to step into high school teaching but I can’t because if degree requirements and I couldn’t pay my mortgage.
Hey Steve! Next time, do you mind reading the comments aloud when you display them? I like to listen instead of watch and it was a little hard to follow.
Hi Kadarius! I didn't even think about that. I'll make sure to next time if I do it again!
@@TheMidlifeDropoutor at least leave the text up longer. I kept having to open my phone and go back to find the question.
Wow those comments are so off base. They clearly have no idea what you teachers face!
Thank tou
I’m a teacher (year 4), and I have never lied to my students. Every day it’s a struggle to overcome- it’s a tough profession, and it takes a big heart to keep doing it.
As for the last question: “Sometimes, you just need to take a risk in life to make it better. Life has always been unpredictable. It’s life.”
I agree with a lot of what you're saying, but I have to disagree about the 'generation raised by mothers' comment. I think you might be misinterpreting the comment as an insult to mothers and their ability to parent. I see how it can be read that way, but I don't think that was the intent. I interpreted it as a criticism of the situation itself, that of single parent households. If anything, I think the blame for that might go to the fathers just as much as it goes to mothers. Regardless, when a divorce/breakup happens, it's almost always the case that the mother gets custody, if not sole custody. The reason for that is multilayered and needs a different conversation, but that is the end result. The impact of this, especially on men, is immense. Fathers are the authority figure in the home. They enforce rules, teach discipline, and show you what a mature man should act like in society. Sounds a lot like what lacking in the schools now.
Hey Jake - that's a great perspective that I didn't think about prior to posting. Thanks for helping me consider that in a different manner!
The problem with people today, go for all all genders but especially men-you will know why below:
Is that people are no longer know how to co-exist with one another.
They’re lack empathy, and compassion, and the ability to compromise and adapt, which is why they cannot coexist.
Yes, I can see how it's easily misinterpreted, but it's actually one of the key issues behind a lot of the behavioral issues he was describing.
The people that say stuff like these comments are LOWBALL humans. (Don't let trolls pull you beneath the bridge you're trying to cross) ❤
Thank you!
It's awfully big of you to reply to those comments.
Those comments are proof that SEL education is necessary.
Just wanted to leave a comment in general support of your response to the mother’s comment. The idea that all children would be better off just because of their father being in their life is just incorrect. Everyone could benefit from having father-figures or good male role models (most of mine were my teachers actually!) but to put this on being raised primarily by a mother? Again, I generally agree with your response.
What do you mean it's just incorrect? Is it just a coincidence that fatherless children are way less successful and more likely to end up in prison? It's statistically undeniable that having a father is a huge advantage to children.
How long have you been a teacher?
Excuse me, please, but do you have own family and children?