(02-10-2023, 11:30 AM)NewJagsCity Wrote:

(02-10-2023, 09:13 AM)Cleatwood Wrote: It’s known as the most liberal county?!

The horror!

You wanna know the reality and not what Fox News is posting?

Teachers are exhausted. Things have changed since Covid and I can’t even pin point the exact reason. We are asked to cover classes during our lunch break because there are no subs. Bus drivers are being asked to run double shifts at the same school because there’s no bus drivers. Teachers aren’t sitting around and “laughing” at situations like this because we don’t have the time. Teachers are so emotionally and physically spent that at the end of the day, we don’t go to happy hour anymore but instead, head straight home. I don’t expect anyone on this board to understand at all unless you are a teacher. You can’t comprehend. So while some of you may think we are out there to indoctrinate your children and make them all gay, that’s simply not the case. 99% of teachers show up every day because we truly care. Even though we are exhausted, we still show up for these kids.

Well said.  My daughter taught for 3 years at a middle school Prep Academy (public school) in St Johns county, which is one of the most conservative (and highest rated educationally) counties in the state of FLA.  Nominated twice for teacher of the year.  She loved her job, but eventually, it was just too much, for all the reasons (and more) you just stated.  Worked 12 - 14 hours a day, with about 6 of that being admin duties.  Answering e-mail constantly from parents.  Extra duties like serving as her school's Girls Athletic director, for the whopping sum of $700, which entailed an extra 10 hours a week for the entire school year.  Constant [BLEEP] by parents who won't back up teachers with any sort of support or discipline. Average to below average pay.  I was glad for her the day that she finally resigned. 

If we want change, we need to change our school boards, not necessarily our local school teachers and administrators.  For the most part, they are hamstrung by policies from higher up.  Just pawns in the game.  Yes, there are some teachers that take advantage of and are protected by current policies, but they (al least for now) are in the minority.  I'm sure that this varies by location, and some of the loonier places like San Fran may be tipping on the edge of too far gone, but I'd wager that even there you have similar sentiment.