Our laws state that all children have a right to a “free and appropriate public education.” However, I am confident most parents and educators agree children in Utah deserve more than just an “appropriate education”; they deserve the highest quality education possible. This includes expert teachers, updated buildings, small class sizes, social-emotional instruction provided by a school psychologist or other mental health professional, and, above all, our children feeling safe, happy, and successful at school.
Educators complete extensive training, often pursuing graduate degrees, because they are passionate about teaching. This begs the question: If educators care so much, why are so many leaving the profession? When professionals express burnout, the popular response is to practice self-care. Of course, I agree. Developing practical coping skills is essential. (I am a school psychologist, after all.) And yes, while self-care is crucial, it is not the only solution and should not be treated as such. So why do we stop there? Especially when, based on a nationwide survey by the National Education Association (2022), 67% of educators report feeling burned out as a very serious issue. The message of self-care puts the responsibility on the individual to change and completely ignores the health of the system.
Self-care won’t improve learning conditions when school buildings are dated and crumbling. Practicing self-care won’t produce the budget to increase the number of mental health providers supporting anxious and traumatized students. Practicing self-care won’t reduce classroom sizes. Practicing self-care won’t address the educator shortage. The way we approach education must be addressed on a systemic level.
UEA is focused on improving the system to benefit students, families, and educators. This has become especially clear to me through my experience as a UEA Policy Ambassador. I have had the opportunity to learn how UEA, our public school districts, and our legislative representatives work together to create positive change for Utahns. On February 2, I will have the chance to see this work happening firsthand at Educator Day on the Hill. The UEA Policy Ambassador program has taught me the importance of participating actively in politics because politics affect everyone.
Educators want to do the most for students. We have extensive training and expertise. Unfortunately, we lack the resources to meet student needs. Our current education system struggles to keep up with a rapidly changing society and the increasingly complex issues that come with it. When resources are lacking, most educators feel a moral obligation to make ends meet for the sake of the students. We work extra hours, pay for supplies with our own money, or turn to our friends and families for donations, stock our classrooms and offices with snacks, and watch as student needs still go unmet despite our tireless efforts.
Let’s push forward and make strategic changes to our education system. Let’s increase spending per student, update school buildings, and treat educators as professionals because we all want the children of Utah to receive the highest quality education possible.
