Teachers Experiencing Reform Fatigue

As the new school year is about to begin, teachers will be bombarded by well-meaning professional development, intended to increase their effectiveness in the classroom. It is just how things are done in education today. Good principals try to temper these days with some community building and good cheer that will start the year off with positive attitudes toward student learning. Still, I marvel at the poor teachers who are ever receiving lists of things to do from the top (Central Office especially) without having anything taken off their plate in exchange.

Teachers are the heart of education. How much can one little heart take? I wonder if we are moving toward more and more symbolic heart attacks among them. Unintended consequences are already being seen among our teaching staff. Teachers are leaving the profession. Teacher efficacy is down.  I have thought that this is probably the most difficult time to be a teacher in public education–and at a time when we so need great teachers.

Teachers and adminstrators are experiencing what is called Reform Fatigue. Looking at the research from the CEP, all of these efforts to raise student achievement are not getting the results NCLB legislation was sure would accompany these reforms. We now celebrate when 3 students out of 60 become proficient in reading. This makes a huge difference in a school’s scores and their ability to survive.  Isn’t this sad? What about the other 57? It is now all about school ratings. Since insufficient progress is being made, we need to reassess what education is all about and allow teachers more autonomy in the classroom. We need to find the joy of learning once again and reduce the stress that is tearing down our public education.

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