XPost: alt.education, alt.politics.democrats, alt.fan.rush-limbaugh   
   XPost: talk.politics.guns   
   From: wonderland@dumbocrats.com   
      
   As it stands today, Colorado’s education system seems to be crying out for   
   an urgent intervention. The Colorado Education Association which is the   
   largest teacher’s union in the state released its annual State of   
   Education report in January and concluded the state’s education system is   
   in a state of crisis. The report included survey results from 1,600 of the   
   association’s 39,000 educators and school staff. This crisis is said to be   
   leaving many teachers feeling overworked, underpaid, not respected and   
   worried that large, systemic issues connected to under funding are hurting   
   their students.   
      
   The CEA claims it is starting to see a large number of educators who are   
   considering leaving the profession because of low remuneration, staffing   
   shortages, workload and safety issues — all problems exacerbated by the   
   COVID-19 pandemic.   
      
   The survey found 85 percent of educators say the classroom teacher   
   shortage in their school is worse this year than in previous years. Sixty   
   percent say they’re considering leaving the profession in the near future,   
   two-thirds are worried about a mass shooting at their school and just a   
   third feel respected by state lawmakers. Though the challenges can feel   
   overwhelming, many educators expressed hope that there are solutions, some   
   of them legislative.   
      
   President of the Colorado Education Association, Amie Baca-Oehlert in an   
   interview with the press admitted that the present situation is in dire   
   straits and needs to change.  “That is a major red flag when we have   
   nearly two-thirds of our educators saying that they are considering   
   leaving the profession. We must demand that our schools have the resources   
   to meet every child’s needs with well-trained and supported educators, for   
   a sustainable, equitable, and thriving education system.”   
      
   Despite the fact that average per pupil spending is at its highest level   
   of $7,748, Colorado still spends well below the national average.  Schools   
   have lost about $10 billion in funding over the past 13 years as a result   
   of a mechanism state lawmakers use to balance the state budget by cutting   
   school funding. That has had “detrimental downstream effects” on every   
   aspect of the school structure; low pay, shortage of educators, student   
   outcomes, and more, according to the report.   
      
   Overwhelming workloads, fueled by a staffing shortage, is one of the main   
   reasons teachers are quitting. Low pay is the second most-cited reason,   
   with many teachers in the state having to work two to three jobs to make   
   ends meet.   
      
   The report said Colorado educators make about 36 percent less compared to   
   other professionals with the same amount of education, citing research by   
   the Economic Policy Institute. Colorado educators make on average $60,000   
   a year.   
      
   It’s quite baffling that a state like Colorado which has one of the   
   strongest economies in the country has one of the lowest starting salaries   
   for educators in the country. According to the Economic Policy Institute,   
   Colorado teachers earn on average about $60,000 annually. That’s about 40   
   percent, or $21,000, less than other college-educated professionals in the   
   state.   
      
   Majority of the state’s teachers also feel a lack of respect from   
   lawmakers and also from a small but loud group of parents who are ramping   
   up politically motivated attacks by attacking schools and critiquing what   
   and how educators teach. One in five teachers say they are considering   
   leaving the profession due to politically motivated attacks on their   
   curriculum or themselves.   
      
   Just a third of educators feel valued by state elected officials.   
   Educators say they want their voices at the center of future education   
   legislation. They say too often laws and standards are enacted without any   
   input from seasoned educators as to how “innovations” might hinder or harm   
   students.   
      
   “It is deeply demoralizing. I work in a relatively well-resourced   
   neighborhood public school. However, post-pandemic there’s a big push to   
   try unproven, experimental methods of assessment, accountability, and   
   curricula. I feel like I’m being admin-ed to death,” said an educator who   
   didn’t want their name in print.   
      
   Two-thirds of educators are “very” or “somewhat worried” about a mass   
   shooting at their school. About 70 percent said that if educators were   
   allowed to carry firearms, they would feel less safe.   
      
   The report highlighted three factors that have a negative impact on   
   teachers’ and students’ well-being: a lack of mental health support, a   
   dearth of LGBTQ acceptance and inclusion and easy access to firearms.   
      
   Juvenile firearm abuse was not a problem until social media showed up.   
      
   https://www.afrikdigest.com/colorados-failing-educational-system-crisis-   
   on-the-horizon/   
      
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