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Rebel Teachers Rising
Even before the pandemic lock-downs, American teachers from sea to shining sea reported a critical shortage of teachers within their ranks, and have watched in horror at the crippling levels of greed, arrogance, apathy, and ignorance at every level of K-12 educational governance. While embattled teachers have continued to try in vain to draw attention to the issues, our leaders have failed to acknowledge the problems at all. But since covid, the nation’s teachers have borne witness to a break neck hastening pace of this downward spiral–and a total avoidance of a conversation from our leaders.
This a-political podcast, created and produced exclusively by teachers, gets into the nitty gritty details of why teachers are leaving the profession in droves, and uncovers huge contributing structural problems baked into the teaching profession which are not discussed or understood even within the K-12 educational world, which also explain why so much of what is done in K-12 is ineffective. These desperate, passionate, highly qualified teachers use this podcast series to insert teachers forcefully into the national conversation about the critical issues plaguing K-12 education, because no one else was letting them in–a fact which belies a central thesis about the roots of the problems discussed throughout the episodes. Listeners will be gripped by the reality that without substantial reforms which empower teachers to lead the work, the inevitable result is a collapse of our very ability to effectively self-govern–a process which they argue is already well underway.
Listen as they describe the problems in teacher pay, teacher preparation requirements, special education, climate and culture, reading instruction, the false promise of existing DEI based frameworks in K-12, and the problems inherent in outsourced canned curriculums. Become a part of the solution as they outline a framework to authentically fix these problems, which require all hands on deck from both inside and outside of K-12 education.
Rebel Teachers Rising
28. Bizzaro Scenarios: Sub Plans, Sick Days, and Admin Who Text You Right Outta Surgery!
In this episode, veteran teachers and hosts Amanda, Jess, and Trina share their bizarre and often heartbreaking experiences dealing with sick days and sub plans in the teaching profession. They discuss the immense pressure on teachers to come to work even when ill, and the systemic challenges that exacerbate such situations. Through personal anecdotes, they address the lack of support from administrators, the emotional and physical toll on educators, and offer a glimmer of hope by highlighting solutions and coping strategies. This candid conversation sheds light on the hidden struggles teachers face, urging a reevaluation of how teacher well-being is valued.
00:00 Introduction to Bizarro Scenarios
00:37 The Struggles of Sick Days and Sub Plans
01:34 Amanda's Ongoing Illness
02:34 Teacher Poll Results on Sick Days
05:11 Jess's Heartbreaking Story
12:10 Amanda's Husband's Experience
13:58 Trina's Challenging Cohort
20:44 Therapy and Self-Care for Teachers
23:48 Veteran Teachers and Classroom Management Challenges
24:36 Implicit Bias in the Classroom
26:43 Systemic Failures in Education
28:16 Teacher Health and Well-being
31:38 The Martyr Teacher Mentality
36:01 Support Systems and Union Help
45:44 The Impact of Teacher Shortages
Resource Mentioned:
www.rebelteachersrising.com
Petition to Save K-12 Schooling and our Precious Democracy!
