• Students
  • Off-Task
  • Do not know how to self-regulate
  • Do not have the skills to work independently
• Substitute shortage
• Over-crowded classrooms
• Lack of parent education
• Lack of effective behavior systems

Teaching is hard work. Teachers, administrators, and parents agree. But what makes this profession so tiring? What major issues make the work of a teacher such a unique struggle? There are large problems that need addressing, but it often seems solutions are not being developed and implemented.

As a classroom teacher for the past three years I made it a goal to only give attention to problems within my locus of control. To do so was to keep from drowning. Trying to fight every fight, every push of the sea, I would have tired from flailing.

I couldn’t control the fact that Johnny had no one to care for him before and after school,

but I was able to give him my undivided attention at the start and end of the school day.

I couldn’t control the extreme shortage of substitute teachers,

but I was able to leave detailed lesson plans for students to access on Edmodo (online learning platform) if I had to be absent.

I couldn’t control the fact that the student teacher ratio was 30:1,

but I was able to pair students with classmates they could learn from and challenge.

I couldn’t go back in time and teach Sally to self-regulate,

but I was able to model self-control myself when she pitched a fit.

I couldn’t control the fact that half of my students came to school without a pencil every day,

but I was able to put procedures in place for them to borrow one without disrupting class.

I couldn’t control the lack of resources and systems to effectively deal with extreme behaviors,

but I was able to set a tone of and expectation for mutual respect in my classroom.

By applying time and energy developing ways to work around problems, I was able to keep swimming. But that’s the issue. I just kept swimming. None of my tireless work actually calmed the sea. I put bandages on wounds, but did not perform surgery where it was needed.

Was my work in vain? Absolutely not. Students grew and lives were changed. Tavion knew someone loved him, Heath learned self-control, April was inspired to keep going when classmates quit, Todd realized his potential as a leader, Mason learned to challenge himself, Grace was encouraged as a parent, Amber was encouraged as a new teacher, and I grew as an educator.

At this time, I aspire to put time and energy into researching and rethinking major issues in the world of education.