Wendy Oellers-Fulmer: Abandon outdated myths about teachers, education

To The Daily Sun,

Teachers are often told how “lucky” they are to have their summers off. What often goes unseen are the grueling hours of uncompensated, invisible work that extends far beyond the classroom, which should receive our profound gratitude and professional respect.

According to data from the Rand Corporation, the average teacher works 53 hours a week, with 15 hours beyond the contracted work week.

This unpaid overtime is spent with assessing student work, modifying lessons for diverse learners, communicating with families, preparing materials, and meeting countless other responsibilities after the final bell.

Those “free summers” are actually filled with curriculum planning, mandatory credential renewals, and educators often spending hundreds of dollars of their own money on basic classroom supplies, in readiness for the new year.

A stark reality from the Economic Policy Institute reports a 25.2% teacher pay penalty … which means teachers, highly trained professionals, earn substantially less than similarly educated professionals.

Teaching is a demanding combination of hours of lesson preparation and assessment, student care and emotional support. Our educators are actively subsidizing the public school system out of their own pockets and personal time.

Beyond academics, teachers are advocates, mentors and often a steady source of encouragement for children navigating the challenges of today's world. The value of that daily human connection cannot easily be measured in hours or dollars.

Our teachers deserve our deepest gratitude for their hearts and respect for their hard work. The public needs to abandon outdated myths and truly recognize the significance of what they give to educate our children.

Wendy Oellers-Fulmer

Gilford