Mass Exodus of Shoals Teachers?

 

Perhaps the member of our blogging team to be with us the longest is J. Redmon. J. has taught in various Shoals schools and now teaches in a nearby city. He is also a longtime Colbert County resident. Here's his take on a local problem:

Teaching is a 'calling'. Not everyone is cut out for it. If you ARE a teacher, God bless you! 

Chances are you have thought about quitting, at least once in your career. But you've stayed. Why? Because you absolutely  love your students.  For many of them you are THE ONLY stability in their lives.  For many of them, school is THE ONLY place they feel safe.  For all of them, YOU are a blessing.

So, then: Why are so many Shoals-area teachers talking about leaving?  Some cite unruly and disrespectful students. Some cite hateful parents.  Others claim their administrators don't support them. While all if these 'reasons' may be true, the REAL reasons fall squarely in the laps of the local school boards.  Some school board members apparently don't understand their duties and responsibilities.

School boards are not only responsible for guiding school superintendents in the management of their schools, but also in providing the 'tools' needed to maintain order, discipline, and morale in the schools. If ANY ONE of these three things is missing, then the school board has FAILED in their job.

In some Shoals area systems, school boards appear to have capitulated to unruly students and vocally disruptive parents. To turn a 'blind eye' to students and parents that verbally and physically abuse school employees is absolutely UNACCEPTABLE. To REFUSE to allow unruly students to be properly disciplined out of fear of what their parents MIGHT do is UNACCEPTABLE. To ALLOW parents to continually disrupt good order in area schools is UNACCEPTABLE.

As my grandmother was fond of saying: 'If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen'.

School board members; you've been put on notice.

Since everyone's mind is on the Ukraine, here's a true teacher story from before most of us were born (yes, even SS):

Once upon a time, a Coffee High history teacher commented she was very pleased, but couldn't understand why a song entitled Crimea River would be at the top of the pop charts...

Bada Bing!