Across the state of Arizona, school districts and education professionals are breathing a huge sigh of relief.
The Arizona Legislature issued budgets in July or August, but we all found out that there is a limit to the dollar amount public schools can spend in a given year.
As a state, we have a problem.
The Arizona legislature voted this week to waive a spending cap that has been in effect since 1980. This cap only applies to district schools because charter schools were not in Arizona in 1980.
The irony is that Arizona has the lowest per-pupil spending in the nation.
How is it possible that public schools have surpassed a spending cap AND have the lowest per-pupil spending in the nation?
This situation defies logic.
Education policy is frequently in the headlines.
Opinions are polarized.
Children are the ones experiencing the lion’s share of the deficits.
While lawmakers are debating isolated cases of what they think is going on in the classroom, class sizes are increasing, counselor-to-student ratios are the highest in the nation, and school facilities are inadequate for current enrollment needs.
It’s no secret that Arizona schools are in crisis and have been for since well before COVID-19 was part of the equation.
I recently read an article in Ed Surge titled America’s Teachers aren’t Burned Out. We are demoralized.
What does that mean? I looked up the definitions of burn-out and demoralize.
Burn-out:
Ruin one’s health or become completely exhausted through overwork.
Synonyms:
work too hard, work like a horse, work like a Trojan, run oneself into the ground, work oneself into the ground, wear oneself to a shadow, work one’s fingers to the bone, drive oneself into the ground, sweat, sweat blood, work day and night, burn the candle at both ends, burn the midnight oil, overtax oneself, overtax one’s strength, kill oneself, do too much, overdo it, strain oneself, overburden oneself, overload oneself, drive oneself too hard, push oneself too hard
https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/burn_outDemoralize:
Cause (someone) to lose confidence or hope; dispirit.
‘their rejection of the treaty has demoralized the diplomatic community
Synonyms:
dispirited, disheartened, downhearted, dejected, cast down, downcast, low, depressed, despairing
dishearten, dispirit, deject, cast down, depress, dismay, daunt, discourage, unman, unnerve, crush, sap, shake, throw, cow, subdue, undermine, devitalize, weaken, enfeeble, enervate
https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/demoralize
I am fortunate to teach in a school and district where I am valued and appreciated. The source of my frustration comes from the attitude of the legislature.
I recently saw a post on LinkedIn outlining the traits of a toxic leader.
I have not seen all of these characteristics displayed by AZ lawmakers. I would not describe them as “overly competitive” on the subject of public education. I have seen them do the opposite, though. There seems to be no interest in being competitive with neighboring states to recruit quality education professionals.
Other state legislatures are passing bills to increase teacher salaries, lower class sizes, and support schools in disadvantaged areas. Arizona is progressing bills that will take money out of district public schools (ESA expansion) and refusing to hear bills that will improve school funding (amending or abolishing the Aggregate Expenditure Limit).
Are you tired of this reality?
Don’t know what to do about it?
There are some ways that you can get involved.
Not sure where to start?
The following organizations will give you a way to use your voice:
Save Our Schools Arizona
Arizona School Boards Association
Arizona Education Association
Expect More Arizona
Children’s Action Alliance
Civic Engagement Beyond Voting
Help fight for the future of Arizona’s children by fighting for the support of their neighborhood public schools.
photo credit: http://clipart-library.com/newhp/365-3659965_voice-clipart-png.png
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Susan Collins
Susan Collins began her teaching career in 1991 in rural Mississippi. She served in 4 different communities in central and north Mississippi as a music educator, mostly elementary general music with one year as a middle school band director. She stepped out of working full-time in the classroom for 9 years when her children were very young but never left teaching. She set up an early childhood music studio and taught music from birth to age 5 (with an adult caregiver). Susan moved to Kingman in northwest rural Arizona in 2016 where she teaches k-5 general music. Susan achieved National Board Certification in the fall of 2016, just after moving to Arizona. She has served as a 2017-18 Arizona Hope Street Group Teacher Fellow and a Candidate Support Provider for National Board Candidates. She is passionate about advocating for the needs of rural schools and ensuring that every student receives an excellent education. When she is not teaching, advocating, or writing about education issues, she is outdoors hiking, reading, and going to musical performances. She can often be found off the grid pondering her next writing piece!