In September, a teacher in the Hamshire-Fannett Independent School District in southeast Texas was fired after district leaders learned he was reading to an eighth-grade class. Graphic novel based on Anne Frank’s diary.
The novel was not approved and deemed inappropriate, and the dismissal made headlines. This was an extreme example of the political burden placed on public school teachers by parents and activists. In addition to rising Holocaust denialism, fueled by misinformation, lack of historical knowledge —Researchers say disagreements over curriculum, book bans and politically contentious issues are gradually increasing pressure on educators.
It’s a dynamic that can have dire consequences when schools are already suffering from severe staffing shortages. At least one study found that the majority of teachers decide: Limit discussion of political and social issues Some are required to do so by their school or school district. But the real problem for schools may come when these teachers decide to quit.
Zachary Long said political scraps can hasten teachers’ decisions to quit. Long, a former history teacher from Florida, left the classroom in 2019. Long and his wife, Brittany Long, another former teacher, started a Facebook group, Life After Teaching, aimed at helping others transition out of the profession. The group has exploded since the pandemic. Their group currently has 107,500 members, Long said, and last month he added 6,700 members.
While it wasn’t politics that forced Mr. Long out, he has seen politics influence some teachers. He argues that the job becomes even more difficult when you add in other issues, such as low pay, long hours, and increased social and emotional issues among students returning from the pandemic. Doing so could make the exit more attractive.
Long said he’s especially noticed this problem in “battleground states” like Florida and Tennessee, where political battles are hurting education. He also added that other teachers often vow never to move to those states, and teachers already living in those states warn others not to come. Ta.
strict surveillance
According to , all of this increases teacher stress and turnover. “Political Polarization and its Impact on Public School Teachers,” is a report by the Institute for Constructive Dialogue, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting civil dialogue.
It can be intense. Milien Duong, the institute’s senior director of research, said the backlash against critical race theory and social-emotional learning is having a big impact on teachers outside the classroom.it is relatively small number Duong added that while there are many parents in control, it is difficult for them to engage openly and constructively.
Duong, a clinical psychologist with experience in school mental health, conducted a qualitative study on how rising political tensions are affecting teachers. She interviewed 14 teachers (primarily English language arts and history) from across the country. The study found that the problem is particularly pronounced when schools decide which textbooks to use and which curriculum guidelines to adopt. One teacher quoted in the report said that during the peer review process, she considered what state the book came from and how community politics might influence its reception, even before the quality of the resources. It suggests that there is a problem.
One of the history teachers Duong interviewed had reached a breaking point. As he taught about the Holocaust, including graphic depictions of its horrors, one student kept laughing. “My teacher said, ‘I don’t know how to deal with this.’ I’m not trained for this and it’s never occurred to me before,” Duong says. The teacher took a leave of absence. She added that heated interactions involving her students seem to upset her teachers more than anything else.
Confronting these trends means overcoming new realities.
Because people interact less with others who disagree with them and find it easier to find information that confirms their biases, it becomes easier to believe falsehoods because they are supported by the immediate environment. Mr. Duong argues that
But this doesn’t just affect current teachers.
It’s not just about skin color
For other observers, they worry about what this pressure means for future teachers.
Sharif Elmekki, founder of the Black Educator Development Center, a Philadelphia-based teacher pipeline program, said district leaders are looking for more diverse teachers. “But it’s just skin color, not thinking or curriculum,” he says.
For Elmekki, one reason there are so few black teachers is that their experiences have long been excluded from the public school system. Elmekki argues that feeling unable to speak openly and honestly about their perspectives without fear of repercussions deters future Black and Indigenous teachers from entering the profession.
in A report jointly published by El-Mekki’s organization Black and Indigenous high school students who aspire to become teachers emphasized that an inclusive curriculum and a sense of ownership in the classroom were key factors in motivating them to teach. Elmekki argues that the political backlash against these people makes them reluctant to enter the profession.
For Elmekki, this exposed a conflict in the district’s priorities.
“They’re basically saying, ‘Yes, we want diverse teachers, but we want you to eliminate yourself,'” Ermekki said.
What should I do? Surprisingly, observers believe that the antidote to divisive political rhetoric may be greater and deeper political participation.
For El-Mekki, it’s about making sure families know what’s going on and how it impacts their students’ growth and development. For example, he argues, more families of color should seek representation on school boards where they can influence policy decisions.
Duong, a researcher at the Institute for Constructive Dialogue, believes broader political engagement could improve the situation.
The groups currently dominating school board races represent only a small portion of the population, Duong said. Although the proportion is larger, “The Exhausted Majority” Of those who are tired of fighting and support compromise, she argues: “In fact, I think that getting more people involved in politics, or having more people involved in politics, will bring some moderation to the current debate.” In schools, It means parents and teachers coming together and trying to have constructive conversations with each other and with more members of the wider community.
It’s also important for administrators to clarify expectations for teachers regarding these issues, Duong said, which can reduce the stress caused by such conflicts. She will provide clear guidance to administrators on how to respond when teachers receive political backlash and how administrators can support teachers facing criticism. We are proposing to provide.
