Pick up a newspaper or spend a few moments watching the evening news and you will find evidence that many schools across the country are in the midst of a morale crisis. In many states, revised standards for Common Core State Standards implementation are taking a toll on teachers who feel as if they are losing the autonomy to plan lessons as they see fit. In some communities, budget difficulties are leading to job loss and stagnant pay. Increased accountability and new methods of evaluating teachers are also discussed as problems facing educators today. Often what frustrates teachers the most is the perception that their voice is not heard in public discussions about these issues. In describing this state of mind, a friend of mine quips, "Teachers are like France. We know that we don't have any real power but we want to be treated as if we do." In some ways, my friend is right, but I don't think the solution to today's morale problem will be found in treating teachers as if they have power, but rather in truly empowering them to be leaders in and out of the school and contributing members of education policy discussions.
Despite the difficulties facing teachers today, many still love the classroom. Building relationships with students and helping them to maximize their potential is a very rewarding pursuit, yet many teachers suggest they become disillusioned by a lack of respect from students, administrators, and society at large. One teacher described the reasons for his low morale and subsequent exodus from the profession, saying "Teachers in schools do not call the shots. They have very little say. They're told what to do; it's a very disempowered line of work." While many teachers who feel this way may follow suit and leave the classroom, those who remain have the potential to ruin attempts to improve morale and build a positive school climate.
Teachers are not the only ones hurt by a lack of empowerment. We are fooling ourselves if we think students
Getting to the Heart of Education: Listening to the Whole At-Risk Student — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOGGetting to the Heart of Education: Listening to the Whole At-Risk StudentFebruary 25, 2014 by Stephen Sroka"Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all." —AristotleMany at-risk students in schools are crying out for help with their real-life iss