Beautifully written, Lauren. It’s amazing to think back to our days at UCLA and how we survived. I honestly think it was pure adrenaline (not in a good way) that we made it through. What I’m finding now (seven years into teaching) is that my adrenaline has run dry and the reality that this really doesn’t get any easier is now settling in. I’m shocked when I learn someone has taught for 20+ years, because: how? Regardless, reading your newsletters has been so comforting. I thought it was me who felt a sense of dismay that this profession has turned out to be the most life-sucking thing (and not necessarily because of the kids). Having a partner who teaches and loves his job, I’ve often thought I was crazy or lazy or just plain ill-suited for this profession. Now I see that perhaps public school teachers are the most disadvantaged group in the American workforce, and only your newsletters have helped bring light to that for me. Please keep these coming! They’re almost therapeutic.
Thank you Danielle! So glad to hear this work has been resonating with you. Truly the bright spot of teaching, aside from the kids, is other teachers. We’re the fucking best and it kills me that we don’t get to be our best. Or even really have time to connect and talk with each other. Sending you love!
Wonderful essay; timely, empathetic, sadly true. We should compare more notes on our parallel LA and Detroit experiences as being janitors of capitalism, disguised as teachers.
I don't quite think it's an amorphous society-driven problem, but rather a continued failure by design, fueled by the highly profitable standardized testing industry and the well insulated billionaire class (who, not coincidentally, always have their offspring attended expensive private schools). The corporate elite still need to sort out who's going to be digging the ditches and picking up the garbage once a week. . . .
Any more thoughts from the rear-view mirror? I plan on retiring in 2025 or 2026 after more than a quarter century in way too stressful urban education (which didn't have to be this way). . . .
“Janitors of capitalism.” Totally. The school system isn’t broken; it’s functioning exactly the way it was designed. The one time public schools were heavily and intentionally invested in (at least majority white public schools) was during the post-war Space Race, and what did they get? The Anti-Vietnam War Movement. (Also when higher ed started to become more expensive.)
Thank you for writing this. It's hard to find education writing that cuts through all the noise and actually gets at something true. This does that and then some, with a deserved dose of righteous fire.
This hits deep. The expectation that teachers shojls endure emotional breakdowns as just "part of the job" is toxic, and it says a lot about how society treats those who work with our most vulnerable kids. Teaching shouldn't push us to the edge, making us feel like we're in survival mode every day. The fact that it does, and that this gets normalized, reveals a system that's broken—not just for teachers, but for students too.
You’re right—teachers’ working conditions *are* students’ learning conditions. When teachers are emotionally drained, constantly replacing their predecessors, or having to take stress leave, the ones who lose out are the students. They deserve educators who are supported and empowered, not hanging by a thread. We can’t keep demanding that teachers sacrifice their mental health for the job; if we want true social justice for students, we need to start with social justice for teachers.
To any teacher reading this: Cry if you need to, but channel that emotion into something powerful. Don’t settle for toxic positivity. Don’t let the system gaslight you into thinking this is normal or OK. You deserve better, and so do your students.
Also, congratulations on your sobriety. You are a miracle.
Beautifully written, Lauren. It’s amazing to think back to our days at UCLA and how we survived. I honestly think it was pure adrenaline (not in a good way) that we made it through. What I’m finding now (seven years into teaching) is that my adrenaline has run dry and the reality that this really doesn’t get any easier is now settling in. I’m shocked when I learn someone has taught for 20+ years, because: how? Regardless, reading your newsletters has been so comforting. I thought it was me who felt a sense of dismay that this profession has turned out to be the most life-sucking thing (and not necessarily because of the kids). Having a partner who teaches and loves his job, I’ve often thought I was crazy or lazy or just plain ill-suited for this profession. Now I see that perhaps public school teachers are the most disadvantaged group in the American workforce, and only your newsletters have helped bring light to that for me. Please keep these coming! They’re almost therapeutic.
Thank you Danielle! So glad to hear this work has been resonating with you. Truly the bright spot of teaching, aside from the kids, is other teachers. We’re the fucking best and it kills me that we don’t get to be our best. Or even really have time to connect and talk with each other. Sending you love!
Wonderful essay; timely, empathetic, sadly true. We should compare more notes on our parallel LA and Detroit experiences as being janitors of capitalism, disguised as teachers.
I don't quite think it's an amorphous society-driven problem, but rather a continued failure by design, fueled by the highly profitable standardized testing industry and the well insulated billionaire class (who, not coincidentally, always have their offspring attended expensive private schools). The corporate elite still need to sort out who's going to be digging the ditches and picking up the garbage once a week. . . .
Any more thoughts from the rear-view mirror? I plan on retiring in 2025 or 2026 after more than a quarter century in way too stressful urban education (which didn't have to be this way). . . .
“Janitors of capitalism.” Totally. The school system isn’t broken; it’s functioning exactly the way it was designed. The one time public schools were heavily and intentionally invested in (at least majority white public schools) was during the post-war Space Race, and what did they get? The Anti-Vietnam War Movement. (Also when higher ed started to become more expensive.)
I have TONS of thoughts from the rearview, lol!
Looking forward to your next installments. (!)
Thank you for writing this. It's hard to find education writing that cuts through all the noise and actually gets at something true. This does that and then some, with a deserved dose of righteous fire.
Thank you Heath! Really appreciated chatting with you about this.
Ooooof. So good.
preach
This hits deep. The expectation that teachers shojls endure emotional breakdowns as just "part of the job" is toxic, and it says a lot about how society treats those who work with our most vulnerable kids. Teaching shouldn't push us to the edge, making us feel like we're in survival mode every day. The fact that it does, and that this gets normalized, reveals a system that's broken—not just for teachers, but for students too.
You’re right—teachers’ working conditions *are* students’ learning conditions. When teachers are emotionally drained, constantly replacing their predecessors, or having to take stress leave, the ones who lose out are the students. They deserve educators who are supported and empowered, not hanging by a thread. We can’t keep demanding that teachers sacrifice their mental health for the job; if we want true social justice for students, we need to start with social justice for teachers.
To any teacher reading this: Cry if you need to, but channel that emotion into something powerful. Don’t settle for toxic positivity. Don’t let the system gaslight you into thinking this is normal or OK. You deserve better, and so do your students.
Also, congratulations on your sobriety. You are a miracle.
My first year of teaching might be the hardest thing I have ever done in a life filled with plenty of adverse experiences.
SAME