Enabling Educators

Educators are enablers. There will be no real reform of public education in the United States until educators stop enabling an ineffective system. My reference point is as a classroom teacher.  I work beyond my contracted hours, take work home, and pay for necessary resources with my own money.  Until the public demands that government at all levels provides adequate funding for the personnel and resources that are necessary there will be no real reform. The public will not demand this as long as educators keep picking up the slack. When will I have the courage of my convictions, to take the risk to work only my contracted hours? If the federal and state governments and the school district for which I work want me to meet the needs of my students and to fulfill the many other professional obligations that they have placed on me, they have the obligation to provide the time and resources required. They do not and they will not so long as I allow them to get away with it. I am an enabler of an ineffective educational system.