You know, we teachers are a gullible bunch.  We want to believe there’s good in everyone, that everyone has good intentions.  But unfortunately, as nature would have it, there are people out there who actually are not looking out for us.  As most of us will tell you, we didn’t get into teaching for the money, but apparently legislators are taking us seriously.

I should jump in at this point and say that I’m in a very fortunate position in terms of my personal salary and benefits, in a district and school board that does its best to work with our union leaders to take care of teachers.  However, my district, like all districts, is at the mercy of our state government and that’s where I’m wary.  For years I’ve watched states legislate curriculum, assessments, and teacher evaluations, all in the name of teacher accountability, because for some reason, despite the fact that teachers can have multiple degrees, they are never quite treated like the professionals they are.

And yet, teachers stay.  We stay despite larger classrooms, fewer resources, more of our own money spent so students can have what they need, more testing and teaching to the test, a more diverse classroom than ever before with students from different socio-economic statuses, speaking many languages, who suffer from trauma and mental health issues and little support with many negative classroom behavior issues.  Teachers stay despite the long hours, the work taken home, and taking additional after-school jobs in order to help their own families.   They stay despite the fact that they are called names by politicians, chastised by parents and community members and disrespected by students.

So why then do they stay?  It’s not logical.  I can’t imagine any other professional putting up with this kind of treatment, and yet teachers stay.  Well, at least 50% of them. The only different variable has to be that teachers want to make a difference in the lives of children.  There is obviously nothing else left and that need to make a difference is powerful enough that teachers put up with ridiculous treatment and conditions for a long time, believing at the same time that the results of our labor will make a difference in how people think of teachers.

Fool me once, shame on you.  Fool me twice….5 times….10 times….  What was the breaking point?  We’re apparently seeing the results of the breaking point in various states across the country.  Was it this last school shooting?  Is it the fact that some legislators are wanting to put guns in the hands of teachers?  As if being trained to deal with every other possible scenario that could ever happen during the school day wasn’t enough.  What are we teaching our students if we aren’t standing up not only for them but for ourselves?  What are we teaching them if we don’t demand that we be treated with respect as the professionals we are and instead cower and give in no matter what is throw at us or taken away?  What are we teaching if we don’t take advantage of our right to protest when we need our leaders to hear us?  And what are we teaching if we don’t demonstrate perseverance when it takes a while to change the culture we find ourselves in?

Maybe it’s the combination of all the above that is the straw that broke the camel’s back.  Maybe it’s the fact that politicians don’t even try to hide their disdain for who they perceive teachers and the teaching profession to be.  That somehow teachers are whiny, spoiled, irresponsible and living in the past.  That schools need to be run like businesses and students are products to be used.

Even the nicest people have their limits.  Don’t try to reach that point because the nicest people are also the scariest people when they’ve had enough.

Yes, I believe that most teachers are nice people.  We’re also highly educated and highly organized.  We are not the people you want to deal with when we’ve been pushed too far.  As of fall 2017, there were 3.2 million full time teachers in the United States and I’m betting they’ll be voting this coming fall.  No more shame on me.