Teacher shortage

 I was eating lunch with a former student who was thinking about becoming a teacher.  He asked me, “Why do you think there’s a teacher shortage?”  I took a few seconds to gather my thoughts, and then I responded. 

Covid definitely knocked some teachers out of the market.  Many teachers close to retiring just called it quits, while others left the profession rather than learn the technology and rethink the way they would teach during the pandemic. 

The demands of the job are much more than the public realizes.  It is close to impossible to be a great teacher while only working 7:45 a.m.-2:45 p.m.  While almost all the teachers I know work way more than these hours, the profession is often called “lazy” by outsiders who think we only punch in and out. 

Over the last three years, many jobs became more flexible, while teaching returned to pre-pandemic days.  Teachers could now leave the profession for higher-paying jobs with more flexible hours.  Whereas the hours once made teaching attractive, now many other professions offer more flexibility. 

Many teachers became tired of being underpaid and underappreciated.  It is rare to see positive stories about teachers, while often the public blames teachers for societal problems.  When you combine the two things, you end up with a toxic workplace. 

The scary part is that most teacher colleges are at an all-time low in enrollment.  Therefore, as teachers  retire, there are no backups.  In my area, there were once standards for becoming a teacher.  Those have been waived in order to have someone in front of the classroom.

 

At the end of the conversation, my student asked me why I am still teaching.  I will share my response next week. 

Poker Scandal

 As a young man I was extremely interested in the game of poker. While I do not really play anymore, I still follow the poker scene on YouTube. Poker is presently going through a scandal in which one of the best players is accusing another player of cheating. 

What I found interesting is that both sides of this issue are convinced that they are right. On Twitter, some people said that there was definitely cheating, while others said that none occurred. Both sides kept doubling down in response to the others’ arguments. 

One of the biggest mistakes everyone makes: We try to change the other person’s mind.  Psychologist Adam Grant suggests that instead of trying to change someone’s mind, we try to open it. One of the questions he suggests asking is, “What facts do you need to change your mind on this issue?” This request does not put the person on the defensive but instead allows them to think about what might change their mind. 

Grant also did some research on political hot-buttons. When talking about the abortion issue, he asked people to reflect on their life as if they had the opposite view. While this did not change people's opinions, it allowed them too see that there were different perspectives to the issue. 

We often put a negative connotation on people who change their minds, calling them flip-floppers. However, I would argue that we should applaud them, because they have shown the ability to learn by taking current information into account 

In the future, when you notice a person has changed their opinion due to additional information, take a moment to congratulate them. What they have shown is the ability to be flexible and to learn. 

Bounce Back

 

When watching interviews with cancer survivors, I notice that most of them talk about how the battle has made them a better person.  That now they have a better perspective on life.  These people did not bounce back—they bounced forward.

As I watch us come back from the pandemic, I wonder, is the same thing going on?  In the classroom, students seem more attentive and better focused.  I think we appreciate that we can get back to what was once our normal day-to-day.

Globally, research shows that more people are volunteering, which might indicate that the pandemic has given many people a different perspective.  People are also giving to charities more now than ever before.

Covid shined a light on mental health, which is a good thing for all of us.  Where a mental health day was once thought of as a sign of weakness, it is now encouraged by many companies.  While it seems that stress and anxiety are down from the height of the pandemic, it is an issue that more people are now aware of.

As we, all try to bounce back from the pandemic, the challenge is to take a second and thank the people who are most important to us.

How Olivia Newton-John inspired me

 When I was on vacation this summer Olivia Newton-John passed away. At the time, I was not familiar with her work besides Grease. I then watched a couple of her interviews on YouTube and two themes jumped out at me on every interview; she would discuss how happy she was and how grateful she was for everything in her life.

Olivia, of course, did not have financial worries but she still faced the obstacles we all face during her life. Instead of worrying about why me, she focused, her energy on being grateful for what she had. Gratitude (more here) is an amazing characteristic in that you cannot get too much of it. Grateful people are happier, nicer to others, more cooperative and have better relationships.

On a personal level, I try to express my gratitude. Each day I write down three good things that happened to be the previous day. This especially is important to me on those bad days on which I think there is nothing to be happy about. What I have found is that when I do these three good things it has changed my mindset. Instead of holding on to all the bad things that have happened, I hold onto all the good things.

Secondly, I use to spend time worrying about how people might perceive a letter of gratitude. Now I just write it and send it without any worries. I have learned that people are very appreciative, and it helps build a stronger relationship.

I will allow Olivia Newton-John’s daughter the last words. When asked what was the best career advice (she was also an actor and singer) her mom gave her. She replied, “She never had to give me advice. I watched her every day. She never felt she was bigger than anyone and she was always grateful for everything she had.