The Impossible Expectations of Being a Teacher (and how to help)

Note: this article was first published by Anastasia Betts on LinkedIn

Teaching is a profession that demands the impossible. As we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, it’s crucial that we not only recognize the immense contributions of educators but also confront the often unrealistic and contradictory expectations placed upon them.

Most of us are familiar by now with the powerful monologue delivered by America Ferrera in the Barbie movie — you know, the one about the impossible expectations of being a woman. Seeing all the Teacher Appreciation posts today had me thinking about the very similar impossible expectations that we place on teachers. Inspired by this, I took a shot at adapting that monologue (shared in the image below). In essence — the Barbie Monologue, but Make it Teacher.

Anastasia Betts’ adaptation of the America Ferrera monologue from the Barbie Movie (2023) describing the challenges of being a teacher.

My adaptation highlights the myriad roles teachers are expected to fulfill, often with limited resources and support. They must be engaging but disciplined, experts in their subjects but always learning, shaping the future but not rocking the boat. They are expected to pour their hearts into their work, to care deeply for every student, but not to the point of attachment or burnout.

The pressures and contradictions I attempted to capture were not meant to be cliches or. rhetorical flourishes — they are the daily reality for many educators. Teachers are tasked with one of the most vital roles in our society: nurturing and educating the next generation. Yet, they often find themselves underappreciated, underpaid, and overburdened.

The ever-evolving nature of teaching, technology, and society shifts bring additional challenges. Teachers have had to navigate a worldwide pandemic and recovery, moves to online or hybrid learning, manage concerns for their own health and that of their students, politically driven demands, and adapt to constantly changing guidelines and expectations. They’ve gone above and beyond to ensure students continue to learn and feel supported during the last several years of immense upheaval.

Teachers have long faced systemic issues. They work long hours, taking work home with them and investing personal time and resources into their classrooms. They navigate complex bureaucracies and policies, often with little autonomy. They manage classrooms filled with students of diverse needs and backgrounds, striving to give each child the attention and support they need to thrive.

Truly appreciating teachers means advocating for better pay and benefits, for more resources and funding for schools. It means trusting teachers as professionals and giving them the autonomy to make decisions based on their expertise and understanding of their students. It means providing robust mental health support and working to alleviate the sources of stress and burnout. Most of all, it means recognizing that the expectations we place on teachers are often impossible to meet without substantive systemic change.

It’s not enough to simply appreciate teachers for one week out of the year. While the sentiment of Teacher Appreciation Week is valuable, true appreciation requires more than just words. It demands a commitment to creating an environment that empowers teachers to thrive. Appreciation without action risks ringing hollow, a performative gesture that fails to address the real challenges educators face. Instead, we must couple our appreciation with a dedication to enacting meaningful change.

So this Teacher Appreciation Week, let’s go beyond words of gratitude. Let’s commit to being advocates for teachers, to pushing for the changes and support they need to do their vital work. Here are five concrete actions we can all take:

1. Advocate for better funding: Reach out to your local representatives and school board members, and advocate for increased education funding. This could help improve teacher salaries, provide more resources for classrooms, and reduce class sizes. Attend school board meetings, write letters, and make your voice heard.
2. Volunteer your time and skills: Offer to help out in a classroom, chaperone a field trip, or share your professional expertise through guest lectures or workshops. Many schools also have programs where you can mentor or tutor students, alleviating some of the burden on teachers.
3. Support teacher well-being: Encourage your school district to prioritize teacher mental health and well-being. This could include advocating for better mental health benefits, supporting the creation of staff wellness programs, or even organizing community events to show appreciation and provide stress relief for teachers.
4. Donate resources: Many teachers spend their own money on classroom supplies. Consider donating directly to a classroom or school, or support organizations that provide resources to teachers. This could include anything from books and art supplies to technology and furniture.
5. Be an engaged community member: Stay informed about education issues in your community and get involved. Attend parent-teacher conferences, school events, and town halls. Foster a culture of respect and appreciation for teachers in your interactions and conversations. When issues arise, approach them with a collaborative, problem-solving mindset.These actions, combined with our heartfelt appreciation, can make a real difference. They show teachers that we don’t just appreciate them in word, but in deed. That we’re willing to stand alongside them, to fight for the resources and conditions they need to thrive.

To all the teachers reading this: we see you, we value you, and we are committed to supporting you, this week and every week. Your work is essential, and you deserve a community that shows up for you. Thank you for all that you do, today and every day.

-Anastasia

Additional Reading:

Ten ways you can support teachers this school year: https://mashable.com/article/how-to-help-teachers

The importance of education advocacy: https://soeonline.american.edu/blog/education-advocacy/

Fifteen advocacy groups championing teachers and learning across the U.S.: https://soeonline.american.edu/blog/education-advocacy/