ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

There comes a time when teachers have to say in a collective voice, "Enough is enough. I have no more time, tears, sweat, or blood to give".

I have heard teachers say that they are in the business of children and they only do it for the kids. It irritates me when I hear this because it exposes a weakness in the profession. It’s almost as if they are rolling over and letting the jackals have easy access to their throat. Well, pediatricians, pediatric dentists, psychologists, and so on, are also in the business of children, but they don't seem to be inflicted with the same type of disrespect teachers suffer.

I have worked for some amazing administrations and acted as a member of some wonderful Professional Learning Communities. However, each year, especially since the mandate of NCLB, more and more is expected of teachers with less and less monetary return and respect. The teaching profession seems to be held hostage by crackpot politicians, well-paid superintendents, increasingly hostile and mean-spirited administrators, unreasonable parents, and unruly children. When does it stop? When will the effort they expect us to give equal the respect and dignity we deserve?