What made you quit your career in education?
I went into teaching after retiring from the military. While expecdting dramatic changes from the time I was student (25 years earlier), I was stunned by the lack of discipline in the school; the inmates were literally running the asylum and administrators were unable or unwilling to regain control.
Spent three years in teaching before moving on...most disappointing years of my life. I salute the few, quality teachers who can actually impart knowledge to the young skulls full of mush and motivate them to learn.
Unfortunately, teachers of that caliber are few and far between; these days, too many are butt kissers, clock watchers and political hacks who make sure they are aligned with their union and its policies. If you’re in tight with the (incompetent) administrators and the union shop bosses, you’re a cinch for tenure, regardless of teaching skill. And once tenure is secured, the level of effort dissipates pretty fast.
To be fair, there are still a few good public schools. My grand-daughter goes to an excellent middle school in a county where the median income is between $60-70K a year, and the parents are actively involved. But I can drive 15 miles from that location and show you schools in a near-by district that look (and operate) like something in the Third World. Actually, that’s a bit unfair, since most third world schools are more orderly than their American counterparts.
Public education in American is largely dead and done, but no one is willing to admit it. My advice to anyone with children preparing to enter school (and outside the few “quality” districts) is simple: home school, private school or move to a good district. Make the sacrifices required, and both you and your child will be eternally grateful.