Hey Legislators, Pay Attention to Teachers

Names and situations have been changed slightly to maintain anonymity.

Today in Indiana, thousands of public school teachers, including teachers from the charter schools where I work (because charter schools are public schools), are gathering at the Statehouse to rally for better funding and less emphasis on standardized testing, among other issues. It’s the first day of the legislative session and our teachers want to be heard. They deserve to be heard.

Here’s why.

Mr. Ellis, a math teacher, arrives at school early to supervise students in the cafeteria. Many of these students must arrive at school an hour-and-a-half early so their parents can get to work on time. As he surveys the space, Mr. Ellis notices a somber look on Peter, a normally upbeat student. When Mr. Ellis asks him how he’s doing, Peter confides in Mr. Ellis that his parents are getting a divorce. They told Peter and his siblings last night. By the time the bell rings for school to begin, nothing has changed in Peter’s circumstances, but everything has changed in his demeanor. He is no longer hanging his head. And when he slings his backpack over his shoulder, he high-fives a friend nearby and they walk to class ready to learn… all because Mr. Ellis listened.

At the end of the day, after teaching every period, Mr. Ellis laces up his running shoes to meet the cross country team he coaches. There’s a freshman who is struggling to keep up with his teammates during practice so Mr. Ellis runs alongside him, encouraging him to persevere. When he’s finished with cross country practice, Mr. Ellis drives home just in time to sit down for dinner with his family, and then plant himself at the kitchen table to grade papers until it’s time to put his three small children to bed. The next morning, he will be at school early again to host office hours for students who need to remediate exams or who need clarification on other assignments.

Mrs. Bailey teaches reading to students who are not performing at a high school level.  Many of her students have faced significant trauma in their young lives. In order to effectively teach her students the reading curriculum, she knows she must also build a secure classroom culture where her students feel known and cared for. 

One particular day, I see Mrs. Bailey walking the hallways with Carla, a student she had in class earlier in the day. Carla had a difficult time staying on task and became disruptive to the point that she needed to see the assistant principal for the last few minutes of the period. Instead of dismissing the situation, Mrs. Bailey finds Carla later in the day and asks her to take a walk for a few minutes during Carla’s study hall. Mrs. Bailey doesn’t ask what has gotten into her or why she behaved the way she did. Instead, she simply asks what’s happening. 

“Nothing,” Carla mumbles. As they walk in silence for a few minutes, Carla starts talking. She says school is the only place where she feels safe and when she feels disrespected as she had by a classmates’ careless comment, she wants to yell or fight. That’s how she has always handled things.

“What other ways might work to solve a situation like that?” Mrs. Bailey asks. By the time Carla returns to her study hall, she has no doubt gained more trust in her teacher and added to the idea that her school is indeed a safe place for her to learn and grow.

Every day I see dozens of examples such as these where teachers work long days and into the nights and weekends to not only teach academic content to our kids, but to support them emotionally as well. These teachers give their hearts and souls to their students. I have seen the evidence with my own children when one of their former English teachers stops in my office to ask how my oldest is doing, or one of their Latin teachers shares a funny memory of one of my boys in class.

Legislators, sit up and listen today. Actually, stand at attention. These teachers are bleeding from the inside out and many are walking wounded as they show up day in and day out in the battleground that is a public school. Kids need them desperately, parents respect them hardily, and I hope beyond hope that as you work on all things education, you will act boldly.