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So, What's Next? [1]

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Date: 2022-08-27

The days are getting darker, school supplies have taken over big box stores like Target and Wal-Mart. Whether we like it or not, autumn is upon us. I used to have dual feelings about this time of year. The freedom of summer will shortly end, and school buses will replace bikes out in my neighborhood. This time of year of exciting and a little nerve-wrecking. Would my students like me, listen to me, and respect me? Well, I no longer had to worry about this. In April, I requested retirement. I feel very strange about not going back to my classroom, I mean I have either been a teacher or a student for nearly 40 years. To be quite honest, retirement was not on my radar. However, another meeting and another moment of chastising from my principal made me rethink my plan.

In 2010, most state adopted Common Core Standards. We received our marching orders and the Common Core Companion (a book that walks teachers through the standards and interprets what needs to be completed) a month before school started. We weathered that storm, little did we know that we would encounter more dubious weather. You see, at least at our school, we now had to realign our curriculum to Common Core, to the Common Core Companion and with the weekly guidance and overseeing of a Reading Specialist. I don’t know if that is now standard protocol for high school English departments. But it was at our school.

Common Core and the Companion was organized by state governors and “educational professionals,” in order to level the playing field for schools across the U.S., and better prepare students for college or the work force. The focus was moved from literature to nonfiction and skill and life readiness. We were never included in discussions about how to interpret Common Core or if we would want or need the Companion. We were expected to use the Companion, guided by our Reading Specialist. Nonfiction and manuals took over the reading focus, and much social studies/history was to be incorporated. For example, we had to add and teach a seminal piece of legislation. So goodbye coming of age novels and hello FDR’s “Four Freedoms.”

Then in March of 2020 saw schools and most businesses (unless they were deemed essential) on lock down due to Covid. At our school, our last day was March 17, then we grabbed our computers, books and lesson plans worked to teach them via the internet. It was crazy and proved a very anxious time for students, teacher and parents a like. Fall 2020 education was taught via Zoom, and that was another adjustment. In the winter, this turned into a split schedule every other day for all students. Once again, pupils, teachers and staff had to memorize a new schedule, learn new protocols and not only teach to our students in class, but to any students who opted to continue learning via Zoom. I think most teachers would say that this became a defining moment. Unfortunately staff members and teachers at all schools in our district resigned for a plethora of reasons. We were reminded ad nauseum that these Covid times were very challenging for our students, and to be patient. Unfortunately, the same courtesy was not extended to teachers and staff. I had been very depressed and filled with anxiety due to all the changes and the unknowns. In fact, I had leave school one day because I was having a major panic attack, but wasn’t convinced that it wasn’t a heart attack.

I mention all this because to my knowledge, we were never checked on, never asked how we were doing or asked how or what our administration might be able to do to help. Expectations continued to grow and some teachers seemed to vanish into the night. This was not discussed, and we never got a chance to send our best wishes or goodbyes. This would seem like a good time to have some conversations on how our teacher-lives could be made easier. And of course, no one was saying thank you or checking on the faculty’s health and well being. We were expected to accept late work; however be earlier to work than before, and be available to discuss various issues with students and parents and again, be sympathetic to the strain Covid was placing on our students.

In 2022, life started to provide a semblance of normalcy, but many of us (especially anyone who also was a coach or adviser) were exhausted and quite frankly needed a pat on the back or a thank you. Besides never being asked how we were doing, we felt very unappreciated. And Common Core was going nowhere. I had a decision to make, and I opted to retire.

What’s on my schedule next? Well, I really want to do some research into how other schools and states have incorporated Common Core, and if there has there been any autonomy that has remained in the teachers’ classrooms since it was introduced? Is my school unique with its approach to Common Core, the use of the Common Core Companion, and its Covid protocol? Have other institutions thanked, encouraged and checked on the health of the staff and faculty? How have the retained their faculty members? These are very difficult times, but I also suspect a little appreciation might go a long ways. It sure would have with me.

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