Time For Class

The smell of fresh beginnings is wafting our way with the next school year approaching. Us teachers have been using OSHA laws as guidelines or suggestions rather than necessary safety protocol to make sure our rooms are the place our students want to be in. We are also making sure our rooms are the place we want to be in as well since so much of our time will be spent there. Because of my eagerness to create an environment all would feel welcome in, there has been a lot of time to think.

The past few days have been a flurry of emotions to say the least. There’s this mix of nostalgia and excitement that course through my heart every time I open my door after summer break. My classroom has been a place of growth and found family if I can be bold. Nothing is more precious than turning a name on a roster to a name of a soul- one who you would love to see achieve every dream and wish they hold.

There’s nothing in this world that could take away my joy for teaching simply because of the memories held within those brick walls. All the times students smiled realizing they understood the content. The giggles after I stumble over a word or when an inside joke is created due to some happenstance. Every year is a new adventure and a new lens to see the world through.

But, there’s also hesitancy, hurt, and sadness. And without putting words into other’s mouths, I think this is what many teachers have gotten hung up on. Some have taken to social media to drown theirs out in humor. Others have taken to the streets to protest. Some, some slip quietly into one distraction after another.

As we are begrudgingly going to our first PD of the year (we at least get fed at ours) we know that the words of wisdom from our admin typically stop as soon as our students leave the campus grounds. Our lesson plans are intentionally overflowing with inspiration, scaffolding, and ways to relate our standards to the outside world and yet… many politicians and families won’t see it no matter how many times we provide examples. Our words of wisdom and encouragement can disappear within the blink of an eye.

And it’s because we know deep down in our hearts that our students are facing battles far bigger than a plot line. They are facing situations far beyond our reach every single day and there is nothing we can do at this point to protect them. Because our words are only whispers in the whirlwind of this world.

We keep smiles on our faces when we tell them everything will be okay. Everyday we promise our students they will always have what they need. But this promise is getting shakier by the day.

But with every breath we take, every stroke of a lawmakers pen… their rights as humans and their right to quality education is slipping away. Who knows what services they will lose at any given moment due to budget cuts. Who knows what class sizes will be because entire schools are being forced to shut down (I have at least one class well over 30 already and the number will likely grow). All because funding is slowing being redistributed and stripped from public schools. It is going to vouchers for homeschooling and private schools. In my state alone there are hundred of thousands of dollars sitting unused in bank accounts or used incorrectly. It’s getting funneled into charter schools who receive less regulations and often suggest students move onto their neighborhood public school once they receive their money for 100 days of attendance when the student doesn’t fit the academic mold of the school. Worse, it is getting shoveled by the bucketful towards… aggressive sectors of the government.

So, as we continue to encourage our students to persevere and do everything we can to create pathways for them to connect their learning journey to that of their peers, they are simply not given the same chances of success because they don’t/won’t have access to the extra help they deserve. Learning takes time. It takes a village. When that village of specialists are stripped away, when that village of educational public television is taken away, when the village of support is stopped, the right to an equitable education is taken away as well.

Education is no longer an equitable journey.

The students this is affecting the most are the ones that need it the most. They are the ones who don’t have access to other opportunities. And the battles are just beginning.

In the world we live in, there is little accountability for what is posted online. Our students are walking into our classrooms literally jacked up on dopamine from doom scrolling- and they don’t even know it! It’s like putting heroin in their cereal. They don’t understand why they scroll, they don’t inherently know it makes their brains feel a certain way, they just know how they feel when they are off the screen. And it ain’t pretty.

I see it in my own kids as well as my students. They turn into walking zombies and struggle to piece two and two together. We can blame COVID for loss of learning all we want but honestly… I don’t know if that’s the case. We should really be turning our pointer fingers at all the technology and the lack of accountability around it.

False facts and AI are everywhere and our kids can’t tell truth from fable. They are constantly bombarded with falsehoods and ways to sneak out of critical thinking leaving them prey to anyone willing to take advantage. Sometimes, this is what I lean on when discussing the dangers of using AI to do our bidding. Sometimes, they realize the more they rely on AI the less they can rely on themselves to think clearly.

Our students have access to it all- even if the parent restricts or forbids. Growing up, we all had ways of defying house rules and these kids are no different. They just find a friend who has access and boom- the internet and social media is literally in the palm of their hands. Suddenly, there are videos popping up with overstimulating content (if you haven’t seen the split screen shorts that are now the craze just know they are exhausting). The people in front of the screens are putting on a show and pretending it is real life- much like reality T.V. But, because it is so over the top and so prevalent to our students every day lives, they begin to think that this is how one should behave. And they mimic it.

It doesn’t help that they can also communicate outside of the school. Bullies don’t take breaks and kids don’t just not use their phones. If their number is leaked it’s over. There is no escaping the relentlessness of these bullies. How do I know? I was one of the first generations to experience this. If my family blocked a number or a SM handle, guess what? S.C. would just create another one. She always found a way to harass me. It’s no different for these kids and almost worse because this time there really are no landlines to call and accidentally harass mom.

As soon as I see the light in a kiddos eyes as I remind them they are worthy, I know that light could be diminished in a millisecond the second they step out of my view. Knowing they are going to be bombarded with insane expectations.

Students are coming into class exhausted and they don’t understand why. In this day in age, families are on the go constantly. Whether it is the idea of gaining a college scholarship through disc jockey, water color, or whatever parents are desperate for their kids to have a chance to go to college without the insane amounts of debt they accrued. It could also be that the parent(s) work multiple jobs to keep a roof over their head. So, they implement the grind culture.

Students place pressure on themselves to try to be the best at everything out of fear of their potential failure. They become engulfed in stress and begin to give up before they begin. Us teachers are there to cheer them on, pick them up, and wipe those tears.

And so, we sit with them. We sit with them and their feelings and help them sift the accountability to where it should land. We tell them how worthy they are and create lessons to reflect the diversity in our rooms.

As the world presses forward, it’s hard not to let your heart break knowing that you’re sending a soul out into this world that is set up for their failure. That your classroom is only a cog in the machine and no matter how hard you try, no matter the devotion you pour into your students and role, there are demons lurking just outside of your room and there is little you can do.

We know that one day, they will doubt themselves and they will doubt the words we said to them even though we love them fiercely. It’s our hope that our words resonate in those moments of darkness and that they know we will always be there for them.

So, we choose to fight the battle. We show up, create those lessons, and rally with our students. It’s a classic David and Goliath. We just hope that like David, we can help these students win against their giants.

We love our jobs. We do. If we didn’t we truly wouldn’t be in a classroom. It’s just that, as we are climbing onto desks older than us hoping they don’t crumble, we are reminded about the battles we are facing.

And we’re here to continue to shout. We are here to continue to rebel against the powers that be who are slowly stripping away education. Everyday, we show up and choose to wrap our students in knowledge because we know it truly is the most powerful tool they could ever possess.

It’s why every year, we open our doors and let the flood of emotions wash over us. And we will continue to do this gladly. Because I truly believe in every student who walks into my room and know that if they are given the right tools from us, they can literally achieve anything.