Education Law

Why they do it

This is arguably the best and worst time of the year to be a teacher.  The best because for most school systems, August is when teachers are off and the students are away in camps, summer programs, or on vacation.  It’s also the worst because the inevitable reality sets in–and every major retailer will tell you — school is back in session very soon.  BoardBuzz often discusses why teachers teach.  It’s a tough, often thankless job.  But one that is absolutely necessary — maybe the most necessary. 

Urban teachers have an additional set of challenges, and an article in The Oakland Tribune caught our attention because the teacher, Jill Thomas, explains herself so well.  She’s a fifth year teacher and discusses the reality that many teachers in America today don’t last much longer than the five year mark. 

We won’t spoil the article for you–she does a great job explaining her reasons for staying, for now, but here’s a clip to tempt you to read further:

Few teachers quit because they realize they don’t care; they quit to save themselves. If retaining good teachers is at the core of improving urban education, systemic changes that support this goal are the answer.

So the next time you see a “back to school sale” think about Ms. Thomas and how she’s preparing for the coming school year.  For anyone who’s in the world of education, whether you’re a board member, superintendent, or fellow teacher, you can appreciate the internal conflict millions of teachers are facing this August.

Full post as published by BoardBuzz: NSBA's Daily Weblog on August 05, 2009 (boomark / email).