Standing Outside The Fire

I referenced before the many ways that teaching is like football.  The clock expired on my first nine weeks on Friday.  I have been thinking over the last week about the last football game my alma mater played and lost and a looming state election.  Many might wonder how in the world the two are related.

Everyone wants to blame Trevor Kinght for throwing the pick six or the field goal kicker for missing an extra point that was blocked or possibly the two missed field goals.  Here's the problem with placing the blame strictly on either of those players...there were a ton of mistakes on both sides of the ball.  Why wasn't the defense able to stop Kansas State from scoring?  Why did the offense sputter on a drive in the red zone that ultimately led to one of those missed field goals?  There are many more scenarios and questions that linger.  What about the annual red river rivalry game the week before where statistics show Texas played a better game and Oklahoma came out with a victory.  Even the week prior to that resulted in a loss coming off a bye week.  Here's my point, the problem is not the kicker or the quarterback, there are bigger issues and unless the coaches and players learn from the mistakes then there will be more losses this season.

Oklahoma education is in a state of disarray.  It is apparently easy to blame teachers and administrators but the problem is so much bigger than that.  I am beyond tired of the public's perception of my job.  Time magazine is coming out with teacher tenure as the cover of their magazine this week.  Education has become America's punching bag for all the problems.  Teachers and administrators are taking the hits.  My state began the school year with around 8% teacher shortage.  We rank at the bottom in prioritizing education and so despite having great teacher prep programs in our college, people are fleeing this state to go teach in another state where they might be valued more at least in their paycheck.

Then there is the fact that educators are leaving the classroom, running from the blame, long work hours, daunting circumstances, and piles of paperwork to another career that can be left at the office when they leave.  Who are we going to replace them with?  

I am tired of taking the blame for decisions that I have not bee included on made by people who have never spent time in my classroom (or any other for that matter) and never walked a mile in my shoes.  I am tired of being punished because the same people are putting educators in insurmountable circumstances.  Where do we draw the line?  Blaming the quarterback and kicker only gets us so far.

Oklahoma, it is your turn to take ownership in what is going on in the world of education.  For four years, the state has had two "leaders" who will tell you how much they want to give teachers raises and have fought for education.  And yet, we are still sitting at the bottom and the bottom is about to fall out with the teacher shortage that our state is now experiencing. 

I like many of my colleagues across the state (and nation) are tired of being blamed for everything that is going on in the world of education.  The nation and state are to blame for electing officials who are making decisions where public education is an after thought and where blaming and reprimanding teachers has been deemed as the solution for all the woes.  Oklahoma, it starts with you on Tuesday, November 4th.  I will take ownership for my mistakes, you can blame the quarterback for the pick six.  However, I am not willing to take responsibility for large class sizes, children's attendance, the argument over state standards and so on.  The team has to step up for those responsibilities.  We need a new coach.  Fallin will tell you how much she values education and how she repealed Common Core because it was not best for children but her actions do not match her words.  In my opinion, she repealed Common Core to separate herself from a state superintendent of education that our state wanted gone.  I do not trust her interests, her decisions, or her leadership.  I only get one vote next Tuesday so I need the team to show up for the children in my classroom, the children across this state, and educators who are drowning in bad decisions and negativity.

With that said, I love this career and I am doing my best to fight for it, both in the classroom and in public perception.  I have twenty one little darlings this year who need your vote.  Despite everything that is going on in the world outside of room 29, I go to work everyday, I plan lessons, and I work more 12 hour days (without overtime pay) than most people could imagine.  Time magazine (or any media outlet) is never going to tell you about all the amazing things going on in my classroom or other classrooms across the state or nation.  Social media and the news are sensationalizing the negativity of this field. 

I will tell you without a doubt that teaching is the best career field that anyone could ever choose.  There are twenty one little faces this year that can account for why that is the case.  We need you to suit up and play for the team on Tuesday, November 4th. 

"But you've got to be tough when consumed by desire
'Cause it's not enough just to stand outside the fire" - Garth Brooks