Teacher shortages - what can parents do about them?
Let’s Talk about Teacher Shortages
What do you do as a parent?
Let’s face it—the challenges that have been going on in our school systems have been there for quite a while.
I have always said that if we have a system where school teachers and administrators are essentially paid from public funds from local areas, when there is an economic downturn you are especially going to feel the heat.
Even when there is no economic downturn, local economies can find it difficult to pay teachers’ salaries and the pensions of retired teachers who have worked for years in the system.
Not to mention, COVID, and the health concerns teachers may have about dealing with a classroom where the students may not practice the best of health habits, because they are children.
If you add to that the factor of immigrants seeking help as they travel toward a better way of life, overcrowding in classrooms and child who may have special needs—it is no wonder why teachers may feel overwhelmed and there may be a shortage of teachers in many classrooms.
Teachers are having to cover for one another and take on “more than they can chew” in some instances.
But, as a parent you are not going to change ALL of these factors—you may make a difference over time, but what about your child’s education this year?
You have to know that if your child’s teacher is overwhelmed in the classroom, in some way, then your child’s education may be impacted in some way. The way to handle it is to make home like school — that is to make sure your child is developing certain skills in the home.
You can’t rely, just on the school system when teachers are overworked and there are things out of your control. You have to test and work with your child at home or just hope that they get what they need.
If your child is in 3rd grade and they are struggling with their basic multiplication facts, don’t let them go on to 4th and 5th grade without knowing these facts. You will just be dooming them to underperformance in math, maybe for the rest of their lives…if they never learn them.
What I am saying is that the dynamics in the classroom are real and that we can’t just let teachers teach our children everything they need to know, we have to take up the charge and make home a place for schoolwork.