How Many is Too Many?

Teachers retire or resign and are not replaced. Districts cut back to save money.  Class sizes are left larger. Crowd control. Pure and simple.  No one,  and I repeat, no one can teach effectively 25 kindergartners or 35 middle school students.  There is no way humanly possible to reach each child and give them the attention that they need.  If a child doesn't understand a concept, they often fall through the cracks, at little or no fault of the teacher, and continue falling behind.  If anyone thinks that they can accomplish this task, I ask you to step up and give it a shot. If you think that you can teach, discipline, form relationships, mentor, facilitate, and make home connections with the parents of over 35 middle school students in one hour a day, you're delusional.  If you think that you can answer questions, monitor recess, develop fine motors skills, while teaching the alphabet, counting, days of the week, months,  and coddling nervous parents of 5 year olds in about six hours a day, you must think you're Super-Teacher.  Bottom line - It isn't possible.

So, why are more and more teachers being asked to take on this task? Money. Teacher's salaries cost money. Districts don't think they can afford more teachers. So... class sizes increase while teacher numbers decrease. Any administrator that thinks the best way to save money is to cut certified staff should be placed in the classroom for one year. I guarantee that they will be counting down the days until summer vacation, living for the week-end, and praying for snow days.  Yet, across the nation these same administrators are treating teachers like they are a dime a dozen.

It isn't that simple. Not just anyone can teach.  Everyone has a different set of skills. A different gift. We all excel in different areas.  If I've said it once, I've said it a million times... respect your teachers, treat them as professionals, pay them what they are worth.  If a school district needs to cut back, they should start at the top.  How many superfluous jobs are hidden in the administrative buildings across the nation? A lot.  Don't go into the schools and start cutting staff. Look at programs that are a waste of time. Positions that are redundant. Resources that are unnecessary.  The truth is... you can't afford to cut teachers.

Our kids need and deserve to have a teacher that has the time and energy to develop those relationships that everyone is raving about.  Stop blaming teachers for everything from plummeting test scores to behavior disorders to the rising cost of school lunches.   Our teachers deserve the opportunity to shine.


Resources don't have to be expensive or full of gimmicks. They just need to be thorough and engaging.

The Tall Tales of Abraham Lincoln

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