Open letter: Ms. Karina has enough

Teaching is often romanticized as a noble profession, a calling to shape young minds and inspire the next generation. And of course, it’s nice to be appreciated and seen, such as being featured in the Patch's Teachers Spotlight. But I’ve had enough - and most of us have had enough. I speak up on their behalf too.

We didn’t become teachers for accolades or wealth; we did it because we believed in the power of education to transform lives. We dedicate our hearts, souls, and countless sleepless nights to the classroom, believing in that ideal. But the harsh reality we face is a system marred by disrespect, neglect, and an overwhelming lack of support. That's why teachers are deciding to step away from teaching. Here’s why.

Firstly, respect - or rather, the lack of it. Teachers are often the scapegoats for everything that goes wrong in education. Parents blame us for their children's poor performance, yet fail to recognize their own role in fostering discipline and respect at home. Children come to school without basic manners, often treating their teachers as obstacles rather than mentors. And when teachers try to instill these values, they are met with resistance from parents who accuse them of overstepping.

It wasn’t always like this. There was a time when a child misbehaved and the teacher could call the principal, and parents would step in to discipline their child. Now, when you try to discipline a child, it’s considered child abuse. The principal and parents come to discipline the teacher, not the child. Asking a student to sit down? Child abuse. Asking a student to do a simple task? Child abuse. Telling a student to put their phone away? Child abuse. Telling them to take their legs off the table? Child abuse. Asking them to stop calling the teacher a "b***"? Child abuse.

This lack of respect extends beyond the classroom. Administrators and policymakers seem more interested in ticking boxes and enforcing bureaucracy than in addressing the real needs of teachers and students. Decisions are made from behind desks, far removed from the realities of the classroom. When teachers raise concerns, they are often dismissed or patronized, left to fend for themselves in an increasingly challenging environment.

The expectations placed on teachers are unrealistic and unsustainable. We are expected to be educators, counselors, social workers, disciplinarians, and role models, all while working with limited resources and inadequate pay. Meanwhile, parents increasingly abdicate their responsibilities, expecting schools to raise their children for them. Basic manners and life skills - once taught at home - are now seen as the teacher’s job. When children act out, it is the teacher who is blamed, not the lack of structure at home. And God forbid we attempt to hold students accountable - any form of discipline is met with outrage, as though we’re the villains.

There is no cooperation between teachers, parents, and administration anymore. Parents drop their children off like they’re being left in a storage unit, expecting us to raise their kids. You want us to teach and raise your children, but you, along with the administration, prevent us from doing so. When you try to set boundaries or do something as simple as correcting behavior, you hear, “Don’t tell me what to do. I can handle my child myself.” Well, the truth is -you don’t. There’s no amount of money that can fix this system. Nobody becomes a teacher for the money- because there is none. And even if salaries were raised, it wouldn’t change the lack of respect and support we face daily.

We will not stay quiet about the lack of respect we face, the constant waiting for the next child to call us names or throw something at us, followed by the parents who yell at us and insist their child’s bad behavior is the result of some deeper issue. No, there is no issue other than the fact that you are not raising your child. You are not teaching them manners, and they do not understand discipline. The reality is that there is no pill to fix the lack of responsibility, the lack of respect, or the lack of discipline. If you want to help your child, start with the basics - teach them respect, teach them manners, and teach them discipline. Don’t pass it off to the school or the teacher. There are no pills for a lack of parenting.

Also, support is nonexistent. Resources are scarce, and teachers are often left to buy supplies out of their own pockets. Professional development is little more than a checkbox exercise, with no real investment in our growth or well-being. Mental health support? Forget it. Teachers are expected to absorb stress and emotional strain without complaint, often at the expense of their own health and personal lives.

I am a good teacher, but I have enough. And I speak not just for myself, but for the many teachers who are also drowning in this broken system, and for those who can’t speak up for themselves - the ones who feel voiceless and unheard, who silently bear the weight of a system that doesn’t support them.

To the parents who undermine teachers, to the administrators who ignore our voices, and to the policymakers who prioritize budgets over education: we are done. We refuse to be part of a system that devalues those who dedicate their lives to shaping the future.

When good teachers who step away will be back? When respect comes back. One day, I believe you will realize that a world without rules creates chaos. And until then, we cannot be part of a system that does not support the core values of education - respect, discipline, and responsibility.

I hope that by sharing my story, I can spark a much-needed conversation about the state of education today. Because if things don’t change, we will continue to lose passionate, dedicated educators and the future they can shape.

Sincerely,
Ms. Karina