Long-time teachers shared their observations on how educational environments have evolved for current students compared to previous generations. Factors such as decreased parental support, increased pressure for high performance, and a business-like mentality in schools where families are treated as clients contribute to these changes. Teachers are facing heightened demands amid concerns about developmental appropriation for educational expectations. Moreover, the introduction of standardized assessments for very young children raises alarms about the impact on childhood anxiety, leading educators to lament the loss of childhood experience in education today.
I've been teaching for over 25 years, and I've noticed a HUGE change in parental support and student behaviors. And once upper administration began treating families as clients, there has been an increased focus on test scores, too. At this point, families are our customers. Education is no longer a privilege provided to children and families, but a business where the students and parents hold all the cards. We, as teachers, are left with no authority or support, higher demands, and children who know that all it takes is a call to Mom or Dad to get the teacher in trouble. Why would anyone want to work in this kind of environment?
I taught in gifted classes for 29 years. The novels I taught to middle school kids in the early '80s, my seniors couldn't read in 2012. It's so sad.
There are certainly differences between students from the beginning of my teacher career and those I'm teaching now. However, among the most significant changes are the learning demands, the pace of instruction, and the pressure to perform. Often, expectations aren't even developmentally appropriate for kids at their respective ages. My district begins administering standardized academic assessments in early childhood programs (literally 3- and 4-year-olds being tested and evaluated for reading and math skills). It's no wonder there's such a dramatic increase in childhood anxiety - they don't even have a chance to be kids, and it's really sad.
Collection
[
|
...
]