Society responsible for drops in reading scores

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

I graduated from a public high school in 1969. Certain memories came back to me as I was reading the editorial, "Who's teaching the kids?" Education was different in those days. Teachers ruled, as the saying goes. Homework was a requirement, often tedious, but it certainly developed a work ethic. Reading assignments were often a part of that homework. Imagine being required to read a chapter or so in a text, and most likely have a pop quiz on it the following day.

I retired after 25 years of teaching in 2010. By the time I left, I saw worrisome changes in the teaching profession. Teachers no longer ruled. Parents questioned the validity of homework. Discipline became a tightrope to walk. Respect from students began to wane. Add to this the distraction of technology – texting, video games, Facebook, etc. and who has the time or the inclination to read?

Yes, the SAT Reading scores are down. But isn't it time to take a look at the other causes of these drops? In the years since 1970, society has changed greatly. I submit that those changes are more responsible for the falling of our youths' reading scores than the lack of any attempts by teachers to educate. Smaller class sizes have become important as teachers deal with a myriad of special-needs students, mainstreamed into their classrooms. Inflation hits the education pocketbook too. (Think of the cost of introducing technology into classrooms.)

I am tired of the constant blame of the failure of today's students on their teachers. If we want to refer back to the test scores of 1970, let's not neglect looking at all that has changed since those days.

---

Richmond.

Susan Shoap.

(Sue Shoap is a retired Chesterfield teacher who spent most of her career at Jacob's Road ES, as well as several years at Swift Creek MS.  Sue was CEA-VP during the early 90s, and also served on the VEA Board of Directors.)

Teacher Shortage Still Not Providing Stability to Workforce

The salary decrease this year has negatively impacted my personal debt.  Several years ago, I returned to this country after working overseas for a few years.  My return and subsequent job search occurred just as the 9-11 tragedy was happening.  I was out of work for seven months, and during that time I paid for things on credit.  With the pay decrease, I am sometimes reduced to paying only the minimums on my credit cards, increasing the length of time I have this personal debt crisis.  I came to public education because I thought it would be a stable place to work, where I'd get an opportunity to share my knowledge, and earn a "reasonable" living.  Apparently I was wrong.
~Career-change Educator

Students Live in Big Homes, Learn in Small Trailers

This year has been the most difficult here in Chesterfield.  I teach a collaborative 4th grade class at Swift Creek Elementary School.  I have 27 students in a trailer: it isn't a "learning cottage," it's an old trailer!  We started the year with ants in the walls, the door was broken two times this year, and the tiles are popping off.

I have too many children in my class for each to get what he or she needs.  It takes so long to grade writing papers or any other assignments for that matter.  I have a very "high needs" group of students; I must answer 200 questions per day, always working with small groups or one-on-one.  I am very tired!

We are wall-to-wall kids, and I feel that I am not being as effective with the large number of students.  I can not help them like I did last year and that frustrates me.  I keep trying to do even more, but I can't, and so I go home mentally spent.

The technology I have in the trailer is so behind the rest of the world.  Help!!!
~Nancy Rader
Veteran 4th Grade Teacher,
Swift Creek Elementary School

Cutting Costs Leaves Children Vulnerable

• Lack of instructional aides increases demands on classroom teachers who already work above and beyond contract expectations.
• SPED (Special Education) aides are pulled out of classrooms to run copies or serve lunch duty due to a lack of office clerical personnel and instructional aides.
• Huge class sizes are detrimental to inclusive practices; children with disabilities (particularly EBD [Emotional Behavioral Disorder] and autism) are completely overwhelmed  in regular education classrooms for lunch, recess, resources, etc.
• To save money, schools are not hiring substitute teachers at times, but instead pull resource teachers and/or guidance counselors to teach; in some cases subs are not hired for SPED aides, leaving classrooms teachers in a very tough position.
• Schools are freezing: cutting costs by not using heat/air conditioning (or only during certain times of the day) has forced teachers and children to have to wear winter coats indoors.  This does not create an environment very conducive to learning.

~Kacie Spellman
Teacher, Ecoff Elementary School

Negative Feedback Loop

I teach Biology in a high school in Chesterfield County, VA.  I teach three levels: Honors, Regular, and Collaborative (with a Special Education teacher).  My Honors Biology class has 25 students, but my other two Biology classes have 28 students each.  Try doing biology labs with 28 students; in the Collaborative class 13 are special education students.  I also teach a Biology-2 class for students needing a 4th science credit, but who don't have the ability to take Chemistry or an AP class.  It also has 28 students - my classroom is always packed full.

I have a total of 131 students in 5 classes: many more than I've ever had in the past.  This means more papers to grade, more time spent at home doing school work, more IEP (Individualized Education Program) meetings to attend, and all for less pay and higher cost of benefits.

I can retire in 2 years, and unless things change, I will.  I would like to continue teaching, but it's not worth the time, effort, and lack of support from the community, school board, board of supervisors, and central office administration in Chesterfield.
~Veteran High School Biology Teacher  

Too Much Is Not a Good Thing

Since this school year began, I have experienced a major increase in class-sizes.  All four of my English-12 classes currently stand at thirty students, and my one elective class also stands at thirty.  The time it takes for me to grade essays... forget about it!  I have so much work in my "Teacher Bag" that when I place it on the passenger's seat of my car, the "air bag off" light disappears.

My students noticed the change in class sizes too.  They have recognized that my time is limited, but their patience is thin.  They need their graded work back in a relatively short turn-around in order for the feedback to be meaningful, but I can no longer provide that short turn-around time.  Many teachers in my department are in the same position as I am, and they are burnt out!  Teachers are tired; I am tired.  Teachers no longer have time for themselves; I now have no time for my family.  In the past, I have never taken a day off to catch up on grades and school work, now I must.
~Sonia M. Smith
English-12 Teacher, Meadowbrook High School

Ex-priority Learning

My school has become and Expeditionary Learning (EL) school to conform with the feeder pattern of schools around us. We are now responsible for planning a 9-12 week intensive investigation that necessitates more planning time, organization, and money. At the same time, our help in the classroom has been cut in half because we lost so many instructional assistants. On top of that, we now have to serve lunch duty as well.
~Veteran Elementary School Teacher

Back to the Future?

In the school year 2010-11, I have more students on my rolls than since 1980 in Chesterfield. For example, I have 6 rolls not 5 because I now give up half of my lunch to keep a "study hall" of 28 additional students.  The study hall is for the 700 students (across the entire school) that have a "D" or "F" on their report card.  They have D's or F's because they are stacked in core classes and can't get the one-on-one instruction that was available just 4 years ago in Chesterfield.

We are drowning in old equipment, out of date textbooks, no n-technical or little technical support for $300 computers.  Our lunch lines are longer because we have few "lunch ladies" who want to work for low wages, short hours, and a high volume of customers.

Schools in Chesterfield are "1985" at best in a 2010 world.  No wonder the U.S. now ranks 15th in the world education assessments.  Chesterfield is still only living in the 20th Century...  A sad story, but it isn't fiction.
~30⁺ year Veteran High School Teacher

Too Much To Be Effective

"To teach is to touch a life forever."
This popular quote sums up the essence of my position as a teacher.  I take my job very seriously.  However, this year and for the last several years, my ability to teach effectively has been jeopardized greatly.

My class size of 28-31 students, all with varying abilities and behavior issues, makes it difficult to teach and reach those students who are in dire need of services.  In addition, I do not have a classroom of my own.  I float to five different locations within the building, having to use other teachers' classrooms.  Often, the rooms are too small to accommodate my students: a few have to sit in folding chairs when everyone is present.
Finally, the vast amount of paperwork, lesson plans on the server, SLC [School Leadership Committee] meetings and PLC [Professional Learning Community] meetings all eat away at my time.  In addition, I am the advisor for an after-school club, so I'm there many days until 4:00 p.m. and volunteer on weekends in various community service projects.

I love the students and teaching!  However, these factors make it impossible to do my job, and are leading to a burnout of the teaching profession.  I simply cannot continue with these conditions.  The loss of 2% of my salary is a constant reminder that the public and our elected officials do not value my services as they sit by as salary declines.
~Veteran High School Teacher

Unplanned Retirement

I am retiring before I had planned.  Why should I continue this chapter of my life when I am not valued by my community?  There is another world waiting for me to make a contribution.  On the other hand, will someone younger be ready for the challenge?  Will they be ready to sacrifice their personal life for the greater good of students, or will they do a half-way job while the students suffer?  Will my grandchild get the education that my children did, or will she have to go to a private school to ensure her success in a world where teachers are no longer valued?  The end is uncertain.
~Veteran Elementary School Teacher