Thousands Abandoning a Sinking Ship

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The ship is the SS Public Education. She is storm-tossed, burning, and sinking. Her attackers have stripped her of any means to move forward, set her on fire, and left her adrift while telling those who sail her that they have to make do with what they've got.

What brought this image to mind?

I had an idea about doing some remote tutoring over the summer, so I posted on ZipRecruiter to get an idea of what sort of remote tutoring positions might be available in our area. Remote because, as long as I have wifi or decent cell service at the campground, I can connect and work with students. Tutoring because I want to help individual students where and when I can.

How did this lead me to consider the image above as representative of public education?

Since the end of the school year, the number of open teaching positions in my area has gone from a small handful a week to dozens every day with new positions being posted all the time.

Veteran teachers who might have pushed off retirement are leaving the minute they are eligible. Those who have enough time to be vested are leaving the profession for better jobs in the private sector. Young teachers, disillusioned by apathetic students, antagonistic parents, unsupportive administration, and non-stop attacks from politicians, are quitting after only a year or two.

I have seen estimates that as many as 40% of the teachers in some districts are leaving the profession. This is staggering. And no one seems to have any idea of how to fix the problem. The Republicans want to dismantle public education and turn the job over to the private sector and homeschooling. The Democrats want to keep throwing money at the problem. Neither side of the divide seems to have a real idea of what the actual problem is or how to solve it.

How do you feel about public education? Are you confident in the public schools where you live?

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