Recently, I received an invitation to join a new local Facebook group. My curiosity led me to click on it, only to discover that the group was formed to criticize the public school district and demand changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents were insisting that there was no valid reason for students not to return to school full-time with regular hours. The posts were filled with politically charged memes, selective statistics about the virus, and local news articles.
After just a few minutes of reading the heated comments, I promptly declined the invitation. I simply don’t have the energy for that. Many of my friends and family are educators, and they are completely exhausted. We still have three months left in the school year, and this isn’t just the usual mid-year fatigue. The stress from parents is pushing teachers closer to their breaking point. My belief is that parents should ease up, not ramp up the pressure.
The pandemic has certainly exposed the deep-rooted issues in our education system. Affluent parents are finally realizing what many have known for years—there are significant flaws within American education. This isn’t a criticism of teachers, who are just as affected by decisions made at higher levels. Based on what I hear from my educator friends, now is not the time for complaints or demands.
I recall a relative jokingly saying that being a teacher meant I had the perfect schedule, with summers, weekends, and holidays off. I laughed, but the reality is that even as a college instructor, I worked tirelessly over summer planning for the next year. My evenings were consumed with grading and preparation, and weekends were no different. Now, teachers are working around the clock, often while wearing masks and adhering to social distancing guidelines, all while trying to meet increasingly demanding expectations from parents.
Teachers like Marjorie Soffer, a veteran with 26 years of experience, expressed frustration about being labeled as lazy. “We’re vilified for wanting to ensure the safety of our students and ourselves,” she shared with Today.com.
Currently, educators are juggling constant schedule changes, pandemic protocols, and their own children’s schooling. One teacher friend of mine was denied the ability to work from home, only to later test positive for COVID-19 after being required to attend in-person meetings. Meanwhile, parental complaints kept flooding her inbox as they questioned how she was preparing students for graduation.
Another teacher had to shift to remote teaching while managing her own kids at home, who were also affected by quarantine. Yet, parents continued to demand answers about their children’s progress, often expressing outrage over lower grades.
Instead of criticizing teachers, why not show some support? Consider sending a small gift card to your child’s teacher for a coffee break or checking if students have the necessary technology for remote learning. You could even volunteer to help prepare meals for students in need.
Teachers are not just delivering academic lessons; they care for the overall well-being of their students. I worry that if the pressure continues, we will lose many dedicated educators who simply can’t endure the stress any longer. Teachers, while indeed remarkable, are human too, and excessive demands can lead to burnout.
Parents need to take a step back. If a school-related issue isn’t urgent, it’s best to let it go or address it calmly. Teaching is one of the toughest professions, made even harder by the pandemic. It’s crucial that we come together to support our educators, which ultimately benefits our children.
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Summary
In light of the pandemic, parents have increasingly pressured teachers, exacerbating their stress and burnout. Many educators are working tirelessly under challenging conditions while also managing their own families. Instead of demanding more from teachers, parents should focus on supporting them and recognizing the difficulties they face. The importance of collaboration and understanding during this time cannot be overstated.
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