As of today, my kids have missed a full week of school due to the teacher walkout. I was pretty frustrated last week with the whole situation. Fast forward a week and we got a call that kids wouldn’t be going to school tomorrow – for the 6th day. My frustrations have escalated and my support of this movement is in rapid decline.
There was a town hall meeting Monday where parents and educators were told if they could be back in the classroom by Thursday there wouldn’t be any make up days for elementary and junior high. We’ve now missed that window.
Meanwhile – we are in full summer break mode around here. Kids are pool hopping, late nights with friends, going to parks every day. I’m doing everything I can to entertain these kids while school is looming over their heads – but unlike summer break, we can’t really go anywhere. We have no idea if tomorrow is the day they’ll have to return so we’re hanging around and trying to make the best of it. The problem is the kid’s educational momentum has been completely shot. Good luck trying to get these kids to come back and really focus for 2 1/2 weeks of school – especially when we all know the last week is anything but educational.
Hallie’s ginormous and capstone world fair project has been sitting on the dining table mostly done for a week and a half. We got an email from her teacher this morning saying it was likely we would be back in session tomorrow – she started putting the finishing touches on it until we got the phone call about no school tomorrow so the project was immediately abandoned.
Bennett’s star student project has been sitting on my desk for a week and a half – his star student day has come and passed. Bennett’s also supposed to have his end of the year math testing upon his return – which I’m sure the kids will feel totally prepared for.
Whenever they do end up back in school I doubt a whole lot is going to get accomplished – its going to take the kids at least a week to adjust to being back at school. Its the whole reason our district chooses to have spring break and fall break in between quarters. Too much is lost in a weeks time.
I’m frustrated. And every parent I’ve talked to is in the same boat. Ironically, we got an email flyer this morning advertising teacher appreciation next week and all the things we should do for the teachers specifically every day. Hmmm…poor timing on the email. Lets just hope we are in the classroom next week.
We love our teachers. We support our teachers with our time, talents and financial contributions. I think my frustration has shifted in feeling as though the teacher’s right to walk out has superseded my kid’s right to his/her education. What right do we as parent’s and students really have in the situation? The government’s voice has been clear – they’re working on it. The teacher’s voice has been clear – we’ll go back once you show us that you’ve actually worked on it. And then you have the parent’s and kids – what’s our right? Where’s our voice?
The feelings of frustration are real on both sides. Maybe parents are getting a better understanding of what teachers have felt for years and years as school funding has not kept up with the needs.
Thanks for you comment. I totally agree. I have appreciated understanding the funding crisis through this process. My kids go to a school that has an active PTO who have provided so much to our teachers and kids classroom – the education financial crisis hasn’t been at the forefront of my thoughts. This movement has brought to light so much understanding as far as funding is concerned. I’m grateful my kids are back in the classroom to finish the year and my biggest hope is that district will distribute the funds the state has agreed to as they have been intended. Hoping for some serious accountability on their part.
Write to your legislators!! That is the most important thing we can do. At this point, it would “throw the baby out with the bathwater” to abandon the effort because it’s not convenient. Tune in and watch the live streaming of the legislative body and see if you still are as frustrated with the teachers instead of our elected officials.
I really truly usually love all of your posts and think you are sooo very talented, but this post really makes me sad to see how strong you feel against teachers! Please know they ARE walking out because the rights of YOUR children are superseding anything else right now. They are fighting to have Arizona schools brought up to AVERAGE standards. If anything you should be even more grateful for them during Teacher Appreciation week. Like the previous commenter said: Write to your legislators! And let me assure you there is not a teacher out there who is not aware of the unfortunate timing of all this. I feel that you must be very unaware of how much the teachers who teach your children everyday spend out of their own wallets, how much extra time, and all the sacrifices that they make to make your child’s education the best it can be, or I am sure you would not make such disrespectful comments to and about teachers.
Thank you so much for reaching out and I really do appreciate your comments. First and foremost – please believe me when I say I love and respect our teachers. The day before the walk out, I went to school with a bouquet of flowers for each teacher including the front desk ladies. I spoke with every teacher individually to further understand the situation and what their thoughts were concerning the matter. It was enlightening. And through that, I gained further insight into the situation from the perspective of teachers I know and love and highly respect. As you have suggested, I have indeed written letters to express my thoughts and concerns – thanks to my teachers who made that known to me.
But what has been frustrating in this process is to hear dialogue similar to yours in saying if you don’t agree with this walkout you must hate and disrespect teachers. I have teachers of my children who didn’t agree with the walkout and I know they don’t hate other teachers. Dissenting opinions does not mean a disregard for someone as a person or their job. It means I think there is far more to this and striking wasn’t the solution I would’ve gone with. It doesn’t settle well with me to know they accepted the same deal that was on the table 6 days before the strike. I’m a skeptic at heart and I tend to look at situations in a different light. I do believe the teachers were motivated for better pay as well as better classroom conditions for my children and I applaud them for that. I also believe at the top of this movement were people with political agendas in an election year and used this as a political play. I’m really not a fan of politics especially when it’s being meddled with education and there are many aspects of how this has taken place and what is being done that just raise red flags in my mind. I remember a couple years back when prop 123 was being shoved down our throats and I didn’t agree with it or who was behind it. And yet I heard similar statements then – if you don’t agree with this you hate our public servants. Nothing could be further from the truth. But now understanding how that prop has been deemed illegal, everyone is back pedaling that once supported it.
I believe people can share a common ideal (increase school funding) and not agree with how to solve the problem and it doesn’t make either side the villain. I’m sorry that my post came across as disrespectful – wasn’t my intent at all. I know the teachers of my children have always felt my love and support and that’s my job as a parent in their classroom. My sister-in-law was a teacher for 17 years, so I fully grasp the hardship day in and day out (largely due to lack of funding and poor parent involvement) – no one can minimize their job. That’s why we’re all working together to make sure the situation changes (not just now, but change that can be sustained in the future) and having different viewpoints on how that can be achieved should be welcomed. I hope you really do feel the sincere nature of my comments, not as mean but just different. And as we teach our children – different is okay, great things can be accomplished with people that think differently. Thanks again for reaching out.