Tired to the Bone

“Teachers are tired.”

I came across these words this morning in a social media discussion about a school lockdown. (Not local) I knew immediately what they meant. Not tired like, “I need a nap” or “Winter vacation can’t come soon enough.” No, it’s more like “Drained to the bone.” “No longer believe there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.” 

My thoughts jumped to this statement responding to the school shooting in Madison, Wisconsin:

The days immediately following school shootings are the very worst to be a teacher in this country. Not just in theory, either. The tension, the anxiety, and the fear are palpable. Thick. Everybody’s nervous systems go into overdrive as we mentally (and sometimes physically) prepare for the worst thing.

Living like this does damage. I know it does.  - - Chanea Bond

Teachers are tired. 

How tired?

I’m so heartbroken and so furious and way too underpaid to be dealing with this all the damn time.

And to think so many of us CHOOSE this.

We could have safer schools and communities.

Instead we just don’t.  - - teacher comment on Bluesky 

We do not pay teachers adequately for the amount of work they do, the intensity of work that they do, and on top of that we expect them to be the first line of defense against gun violence. Every single day.

Teachers are tired.

Let’s make this local: yesterday there was a rally in support of Howard County teachers in front of the George Howard building. Coordinated by the Howard Progressive Project, the event was entitled “Unifying for Community Engagement in Support of Educators.” The rally combined education supporters from a number of local groups including the Howard Progressive Project, HCEA, the African American Coalition of Howard County and others to advocate for increased funding for public schools.

Ellicott City, Maryland - - Howard County educators began this 2024-25 school year withlarger classes, fewer learning materials, and lower inflation-adjusted salaries. But a broad coalition of local organizations is calling on the Board of Education, the County Council, and County Executive Calvin Ball to work together and fund a long-term contract that keeps Howard County educator compensation competitive with neighboring counties. The coalition is also urging stakeholders to find new streams of revenue to fully fund the mandates of the Blueprintfor Maryland’s Future.

 - - press release, Howard County Progressive Project 

Folks, we can’t keep drawing water from an empty well. Teachers are leaving the profession in droves. Young people are less and less inclined to choose and train for a teaching career. 

Our teachers spend hours every day assessing and addressing student needs. What are we doing to address teacher needs? If we believe that free public education is a public good then we must be committed to making the choices that support public schools and help them thrive.

Thank you notes are nice. Teacher gifts are nice. Hot chocolate and cookie buffets are nice. If they were adequate compensation for important and necessary work that’s what we would be giving CEO’s. But we don’t. We expect that their work expectations and salary should be in line with their skills, education, and ability. 

Teachers need the same. And they need us to care enough to make schools safe places for children and adults, too. 

Because teachers are tired. Very, very tired. 

Village Green/Town² Comments