By Steven Fackenthall
Editor’s note: These remarks were presented at an Oct. 20 meeting of the Red Clay Consolidated School District board of education.
Good evening, board.
My name is Steven Fackenthall, music teacher at Richey Elementary and vice president of the Red Clay Education Association.
Tonight, I speak to you about the extraordinary high levels of teacher fatigue and stress that is being experienced by our educators. It’s only Oct. 20, yet it feels like it should be June any time now. We. Are. Tired. Our educators are drowning.
To give more insight, I’d like to share with you thoughts from our educators.
- I’m extremely disappointed that teacher mental (health) has not been mentioned by district leaders once, other than a link to the Employee Assistance Program. There have been no check-ins to see how we are managing, as we are also returning … and (continuing to teach) during a pandemic, … (and there is an) absence of support or concern for our well-being. We are being told to accelerate learning, while we know many students are way behind where even the lowest students are in a typical year.
- From an elementary school teacher: There is, even more than normal, a lack of understanding of what it’s like in the classroom right now. It’s one thing to read and talk about how COVID has affected our kids, but those working office jobs within the district need to take our word on more things or come visit classrooms more often to really understand what is happening.
- I have been a Red Clay employee for 15 years, and I feel hopeless. I’m sad for our students and am completely discouraged as a teacher. The general consensus is that nobody cares.
- I need pacing guidelines relaxed, as I have kids coming back from mandatory quarantines and need to catch up. (English Language Arts) expects us to get through all four units this year, which we never have.
- I need the micromanaging from the district to stop and just have the ability to teach and give my kids what they need.
- I used to love teaching, but after this past year, I am seriously considering leaving. Although I love my kids, everything else about teaching is driving me over the edge. Why isn’t the district listening to us? We need more support. We need more time to plan, grade and help our students. I cannot keep up these 60-70 hours a week.
- Lastly, I was in tears by 11 a.m., and apparently, I was the third teacher of the day to do so. I was in the bathroom sobbing, saying “I can’t do this.” I need a different job. This isn’t sustainable.
These words are saddening. These words are heartbreaking, and only a fraction of the responses I received. Red Clay board, if we are truly to respect the tireless work educators put forward for their students, then we must think about the conditions which we place on them and how to improve that experience.
We. Must. Do. Better. Our working conditions are our students’ learning conditions.
Steven Fackenthall is music teacher at Richey Elementary and vice president of the Red Clay Education Association. He resides in Wilmington.
