I love teaching, but the bureaucracy and prejudice that are working against teachers is staggering. Add to that the job uncertainties: the drastic changes in pensions, healthcare, even job security has made such a specialized, educated profession much less desireable. We are seeing it in a significant drop in the number of people entering teaching programs in college and in the large number of people leaving the profession each year.
I believe that the only way for a democratic republic to work is if all of its citizens has access to a free, quality education. I have watched as politicians have continually demanded that schools and teachers do more while giving them less. That trend frightens me, and I believe that we are already starting to see the results.
Still, this is a battle that I will continue to fight. Every student who I help is another victory towards a better future.