I was a volunteer gymnastics coach for the high school in my tiny rural town for 10 years. We were not funded by the school, and I never worked for the school in any capacity, but they allowed the team to use the facilities, and covered transportation and school insurance for athletes.

This was a unique perspective to get, and I'm grateful for it.

I hope this doesn't sound like bashing, because that's not at all what it is... but I was always uneasy with the idea of teachers being okay with purchasing anything with their own funds or fundraising of any sort when it comes to public education, for that matter.

But I see why it became the norm... any teacher worth their salt wants to teach and do right by the students in their charge, so they did what they had to do.

It kind-of feels like the teachers are really the ones who need to stand up and stand together, and not be accepting of things like having to buy supplies and materials out-of-pocket just to do their jobs. I, as a parent, also got frustrated at what I was being asked to cover, in the name of my child's 'free public' education.

If teachers were able to collectivize and say, go on strike, would that prove to be the catalyst needed to change the situation- for that matter, the perception of the profession, as well?

Or, I guess that's what is happening, as you so aptly put- they are quitting outright or not even pursuing the career path to begin with.

How do we turn this around?

Thank you for the great article!