It’s times like these that try men’s and women’s souls—in education, particularly. And the times just got a whole lot more trying.
Two-plus years of unparalleled COVID-19 pandemic disruptions, rancorous rows over who gets to decide curricula and the placement of critical race theory, and increasing student incivility have been enough to send many a veteran teacher packing for early retirement. Those newer to the profession are swimming in rougher waters than previous generations charted or perhaps could have imagined. There’s now a national shortage of teachers and support staff to show for it.
On the bright side, at the classroom level, things were just starting to gain some semblance of normality—or so most teachers I’ve spoken with were reporting at the start of the year. Sure, many a student was showing the lingering effects of pandemic-era purgatory, having fallen behind in basics such as reading and writing after months squirreled away at home, learning online. But things were back in full swing—in person, thank goodness….