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Teachers, y’all alright? Students, how y’all doing?

The state of education today is on shaky ground. The backlash directed at teachers stems from a wide range of concerns within the system. For years, educators have been the driving force behind shaping our greatest minds. Yet, it can also be argued that unchecked biases in the classroom hinder student success. Across America, students are being affected by cracks in the system that continue to go unrepaired, causing lasting damage each day. The impact has grown so severe that it raises serious concerns not only for learners, but for teachers themselves. No one has yet put their finger on the true cause of the increase in student behaviors and the decrease in reading in math levels countrywide.

According to the Washington Post, high school reading levels are at their lowest in decades. Math scores also fell sharply after the pandemic, particularly in grades 4 through 8. While some states have seen moderate recovery, overall performance remains below pre-pandemic levels.
It has now been five years since the pandemic, yet the education system has not rebounded from the blow it took. The truth is, systemic inequalities were already creating achievement gaps long before COVID-19. These gaps are rooted in socioeconomic, racial, and other disparities that prevent many students from reaching grade-level proficiency on state assessments.

Recent data shows that these students are slipping even further behind, with consequences that extend beyond academics into behavior and overall development. High school students are especially concerning, as many are performing at or below basic proficiency at an alarming rate, with serious implications for both higher education and future employment opportunities.

These concerns haunt the doors of every classroom, with teachers reporting feelings of being emotionally drained, constantly managing student trauma and disruption. Burnout stems from the mental strain of the day, combined with the workload required to deliver success in the classroom. This emotional labor contributes to rising behavioral issues and declining academic focus. Despite falling performance and rising anxiety levels, educators are still expected to meet deadlines and hit performance goals after battling unbeatable odds all year. When those goals are met, they are often rewarded with unwanted school merchandise or pizza parties. With a growing teacher shortage, how can educators be motivated to shape the minds of the next generation? This cultural conflict sends a clear message: this is not a career many would want to choose.

If we want to preserve the future of education, the time to act is now. Teachers cannot continue to shoulder impossible demands with little support and token rewards. Real solutions are needed by providing educators with mental health resources, reducing class sizes, and ensuring fair pay that matches their workload. At the same time, we must tackle low student performance with intentional interventions: stronger tutoring programs, equitable access to resources, and targeted support for students most at risk of falling behind. Schools, districts, and communities must work together to rebuild trust in the system, showing educators and students alike that they are valued. Without change, we risk losing more teachers, watching students fall further behind, and ultimately weakening the foundation of our society