Time for teachers to speak up for themselves

I have been out of the classroom for a while so have to some extent lost contact with the day to day struggles of teachers. I come from one of those families where it seemed like everyone was a teacher and I grew up hearing debates at the dinner table about educational philosophy and teaching methods. You would be surprised about how the same issues come up over and over again. Many of the "new" ideas in education are not really all that new. I feel very comfortable discussing and/or debating any topic in education and I happen to be lucky enough to have a job where I can express my opinions publicly.

I find that while teachers have strong, passionate and intelligent ideas they lack the courage to speak out. The other day I was approached by a teacher who said that she was "disappointed" that I am no longer writing passionate columns about education. I asked her what she thought would make a good topic and she replied, the lack of morale for teachers in the division. Explaining that I was no longer in the staff rooms to hear the day to day concerns, I asked her why teacher morale is low.

She seemed to sense that I was wearing a reporter cap and refused to provide details. I think it is very important to do a column on teacher morale, but I can't if no-one will explain it to me. When I send my daughter off to school, it would be nice to know that the teacher who is helping her learn, is feeling good about their job. I want her to be surrounded by people who love learning not people who feel exhausted, beat up and just are hanging in until summer break.

I would very much like to help change a system that is draining the enthusiasm from dedicated teachers, driving many of them away from the system. In my job I have some freedom to speak up and voice an opinion and I am not afraid of feedback, in fact I welcome debate publicly or privately. However, if I am to take on an issue, I need to fully understand what I am talking about.

If teachers in the division lack the courage to say why morale is lacking, you can't expect me to guess what is bothering you. It is time for teachers to learn to speak up for themselves, at least a little bit because if you don't nothing will change.