It takes guts to quit your job. But leaving behind your whole profession? Impossible without an overwhelming combination of soul-searching and disappointment. Recently, Jessica Gentry, 34, from Harrisonburg, Virginia, quit being a kindergarten teacher at Stone Spring Elementary School. Now, sick and tired of all the people assuming she did it for lousy pay, Jessica penned an emotional Facebook rant revealing the true reasons behind her difficult decision. And money wasn’t even on the list. Her sincere words have already received over 263K reactions and 800 comments, many of which are actively supporting Gentry and the new route she’s taking.
More info: Facebook
Jessica Gentry, a former kindergarten teacher, said she loves children, but that wasn’t enough for her to stay in the job she’s had for the last 12 years
“There were a few major events that spurred my departure. I hold teaching in such high regard that watching my most recent administration laugh about students with disabilities, state that we ‘shouldn’t lose sleep over’ struggling students, say that she [a school administrator] ‘washed her hands of this year’ in April was disheartening to say the least,” Gentry told Good Morning America.
Speaking to WHSV, Michael Richards, the Superintendent of Harrisonburg City Public Schools, made the following statement:
“I would take issue with the notion that teachers are leaving the profession “like their hair’s on fire.” Ms. Gentry may have her own reasons for making that assertion. Teaching is the noblest profession in the world, and the vast majority of teachers are dedicated to the vital work of empowering the next generation. Teaching is definitely a very challenging profession, and it is not for everyone. It requires longer hours than most people believe it does, and it presents multifaceted challenges that blend social and intellectual skills. Some of Ms Gentry’s concerns are entirely valid. For instance, it is imperative that we provide teachers with adequate planning and collaboration time and that we do not pull them away from instructional time. It is imperative that we help students develop strong social skills, especially as society turns increasingly toward device-driven communication. At the same time, we need to empower students to use technology to enrich their learning and develop real-world skills. It is important that we support teachers in developing productive partnerships with parents. Many of Ms. Gentry’s concerns have been squarely on my radar for some time. I have plans to address these and other concerns here in Harrisonburg, where I started as superintendent only a month ago. Too often teachers feel that no one really understands their concerns and that solutions are imposed on them. I plan to partner with teachers so that I am aware of their concerns and they have a voice in the solutions.”
Jessica’s post has already received over 263K reactions
“There is an enormous amount of educators who feel that exact way but have felt alone and guilty for thinking so,” she said. ” I never expected it to reach farther than a few friends — but I am so humbled to be able to throw the curtains open on the issue and give those who feel unable to say it a voice.”
She hopes that her post can start some kind of change.
“I’d love nothing more than to do work with those willing to listen to change the current path our public education system is headed down. I promised my coworkers when I left that I’d be the voice for them since so many fear being reprimanded for speaking up,” she said.
And people are supporting her brave decision
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Nice. Whenever I say that children needs actual parenting and some discipline I am downvoted to the abyss...
Throwing you an upvote, Miklos. Cuz I believe this too. :-)
It's understandable that you get downvotes. Parents know when they are lousy at parenting and they don't want to read that again on BP. They browse BP to forget the yelling, crying and rude kids in the background,. Tomorrow they can drop these monsters off at school and yell, cry and be rude to the teacher who does a lousy job at doing what the parents themselves should have been doing a long time ago. Learn their kids some manners and social skills.
I up voted you for the brutal truth of your statement. No one likes to see the if true reflection. I took time off from work for my daughter. You would not believe the grief I got from neighbors, co-workers and family. It was at times scary, but well worth it. Raising kids is a two person job, and yes it needs to be a little lop sided, one of the parents needs to be able to sacrifice a large chunk of time to them. My ex and I switched out, for a few years, he was primary, then we switched. It is o.k.to cut back or even quit a job to take on the most important job anyone can ever have
Upvote - the only real thing you teach a child is self-discipline. Displine is not something imposed like a punishment, it is not punitive, it is a gift of giving a child good sense, choices and invitations to participate in social life. Technology is a very poor way to teach discipline and learning skills in general. (I know this because I try to teach adults to use fairly easy software and they haven't learned how to learn or listen either.)
It depends on what post you write the comment too
Well, it all depends on what you mean by actual parenting and some discipline. If you mean authoritarian parenting and hitting AKA spanking, then you should be down-voted. If you mean "present" parents (physically and emotionally) who are positive role models and teach their children that actions have consequences (not just punishments), and to understand WHY we have and follow rules and treat other people (adults and other children alike) with respect, then that's good parenting and should be backed.
I'll catch he** for this, but there's a difference between parenting selfishly and *actually parenting*. The apps, the tech, etc., are to free up the time of the *parents*... IMHO. OK, downvote away!
Leo I totally agree - yes times have changed, but it's not like us parents are "fixed" in time, we're bombarded by all the same c**p that the kids are. I know, i'm not immune - i work on a computer, use my phone too much... i should really be cultivating a space at home where it's OK to let your emotions come out in a safe and nurturing way.
Lu, thank you for saying that. My friends don't always realize *how* much "family time" they're also spending online or so forth. I literally cried when one friend said they were doing something "together" and it turned out... they were all each on his/her own iPad at the same time...
No hell to be caught here -- I think you're 100% correct. Tech is extremely seductive and tempting, it hits the reward centers of the brain, IMHO, the same way that drugs, alcohol, or say a huge ice cream sundae does. It's an instant reward, instant escape from stress, and so is very, very addictive. Whereas, parenting is work. It can be a joyful work, especially when you hear their giggles or see their faces shine but it requires us to do things that aren't particularly fun for us -- like doing something with kids that THEY love to do or that they need. But it's work. And when faced with the work of parenting or the instant, visceral reward of electronics, an awful lot of tired, stressed parents naturally default to the latter.
People here are going to hate this, but if a couple is selfishly so involved in their personal lives that they treat their children like they are a distraction shouldn't have children in the first place. There is no requirement to have children.
The people who are going to hate this are wrong. This is absolutely valid. Parents who view their children as pets rather than people don’t deserve the gift of kids.
Nice. Whenever I say that children needs actual parenting and some discipline I am downvoted to the abyss...
Throwing you an upvote, Miklos. Cuz I believe this too. :-)
It's understandable that you get downvotes. Parents know when they are lousy at parenting and they don't want to read that again on BP. They browse BP to forget the yelling, crying and rude kids in the background,. Tomorrow they can drop these monsters off at school and yell, cry and be rude to the teacher who does a lousy job at doing what the parents themselves should have been doing a long time ago. Learn their kids some manners and social skills.
I up voted you for the brutal truth of your statement. No one likes to see the if true reflection. I took time off from work for my daughter. You would not believe the grief I got from neighbors, co-workers and family. It was at times scary, but well worth it. Raising kids is a two person job, and yes it needs to be a little lop sided, one of the parents needs to be able to sacrifice a large chunk of time to them. My ex and I switched out, for a few years, he was primary, then we switched. It is o.k.to cut back or even quit a job to take on the most important job anyone can ever have
Upvote - the only real thing you teach a child is self-discipline. Displine is not something imposed like a punishment, it is not punitive, it is a gift of giving a child good sense, choices and invitations to participate in social life. Technology is a very poor way to teach discipline and learning skills in general. (I know this because I try to teach adults to use fairly easy software and they haven't learned how to learn or listen either.)
It depends on what post you write the comment too
Well, it all depends on what you mean by actual parenting and some discipline. If you mean authoritarian parenting and hitting AKA spanking, then you should be down-voted. If you mean "present" parents (physically and emotionally) who are positive role models and teach their children that actions have consequences (not just punishments), and to understand WHY we have and follow rules and treat other people (adults and other children alike) with respect, then that's good parenting and should be backed.
I'll catch he** for this, but there's a difference between parenting selfishly and *actually parenting*. The apps, the tech, etc., are to free up the time of the *parents*... IMHO. OK, downvote away!
Leo I totally agree - yes times have changed, but it's not like us parents are "fixed" in time, we're bombarded by all the same c**p that the kids are. I know, i'm not immune - i work on a computer, use my phone too much... i should really be cultivating a space at home where it's OK to let your emotions come out in a safe and nurturing way.
Lu, thank you for saying that. My friends don't always realize *how* much "family time" they're also spending online or so forth. I literally cried when one friend said they were doing something "together" and it turned out... they were all each on his/her own iPad at the same time...
No hell to be caught here -- I think you're 100% correct. Tech is extremely seductive and tempting, it hits the reward centers of the brain, IMHO, the same way that drugs, alcohol, or say a huge ice cream sundae does. It's an instant reward, instant escape from stress, and so is very, very addictive. Whereas, parenting is work. It can be a joyful work, especially when you hear their giggles or see their faces shine but it requires us to do things that aren't particularly fun for us -- like doing something with kids that THEY love to do or that they need. But it's work. And when faced with the work of parenting or the instant, visceral reward of electronics, an awful lot of tired, stressed parents naturally default to the latter.
People here are going to hate this, but if a couple is selfishly so involved in their personal lives that they treat their children like they are a distraction shouldn't have children in the first place. There is no requirement to have children.
The people who are going to hate this are wrong. This is absolutely valid. Parents who view their children as pets rather than people don’t deserve the gift of kids.