“Everybody Is Failing These Kids”: Teachers Reveal The Ugly Truth Behind Education In USA

Teachers across the US are becoming more and more concerned about students’ literacy levels, as they’ve started noticing kids in their class greatly struggling with simple tasks like reading and writing. This issue is evident in national assessments, too. Reports show that some schools (cough, Illinois) don’t have a single child who can read at their grade level. 

While those working in the educational system understand the seriousness of the unfolding situation, most Americans are dangerously unaware of the literacy crisis the US is facing. So, teachers, former educators, and even concerned citizens started making videos on TikTok to talk about the state of students’ education in the hopes that it would bring more attention to the issue and initiate a change.

To find their insights on such an important topic, all you have to do is scroll down.

Teachers all over the US are noticing kids’ literacy declining

Teacher in a classroom interacting with students, highlighting concerns about the US literacy crisis and education challenges.

Image credits: Getty Images (not the actual photo)

This particular substitute teacher thinks the US is now living in a literacy crisis

Concerned US teacher discussing the urgent literacy crisis affecting kids and the lack of attention it receives.

Image source: @itsmethehbic

Text excerpt from a concerned US teacher warning about the growing literacy crisis among children in schools.

Concerned US teachers speaking about the growing literacy crisis and its impact on students and education systems.

Text excerpt highlighting concerns from US teachers about burnout and challenges in education amid the literacy crisis.

Text excerpt from concerned US teachers warning about the literacy crisis and students struggling to read grade-level material.

ALT text: Excerpt highlighting literacy crisis with students reading below grade level, reflecting concerned US teachers’ warnings.

US teacher engaging with elementary students about literacy, highlighting concerns over the growing literacy crisis.

Image credits: Getty Images (not the actual photo)

Text discussing concerns from US teachers about literacy crisis and lowered proficiency levels on state standardized tests.

Text describing challenges in classrooms caused by literacy issues, highlighting a growing US literacy crisis among students.

She says that the system is part of the problem: it lowers the standards to accommodate these kids

Text excerpt from a concerned US teacher discussing the literacy crisis and student accommodation challenges.

Excerpt from concerned US teachers discussing the literacy crisis and challenges with special education accommodations.

Text excerpt discussing inadequate accommodations in schools amid US literacy crisis concerns from teachers.

Alt text: Excerpt discussing literacy proficiency and concerns about basic reading skills in students amid literacy crisis warnings by US teachers

Text highlighting concerns from US teachers about the literacy crisis and challenges in student learning motivation.

ALT text: Concerned US teachers discuss challenges in literacy crisis due to students distracted by phones and online behavior.

Screenshot of a concerned teacher discussing the literacy crisis and students struggling with basic reading and research skills.

Text excerpt discussing concerns about literacy skills among children and the literacy crisis warned by US teachers.

However, she believes that parents may be the biggest problem

Text explaining a concern about literacy crisis as US teachers emphasize the importance of summer reading and homework support.

Text excerpt about a teacher's view on early education highlighting concerns in the US literacy crisis from educators.

Person pointing at text in an open book, highlighting concerns about the US literacy crisis among teachers.

Image credits: Alex Zamora (not the actual photo)

Text excerpt from concerned US teachers discussing causes of the literacy crisis and student illiteracy issues.

Text excerpt expressing concern about literacy skills impacting future job opportunities amid US teachers warning about literacy crisis

Text excerpt from a concerned US teacher warning about the literacy crisis and lack of student proficiency in core subjects.

Alt text: Concerned US teachers discussing the literacy crisis and urging awareness about its impact on education and students.

Text highlighting a teacher's concern about literacy crisis as 60 percent of kids struggle with assignments without heavy supervision.

Text about US teachers warning of a literacy crisis where students struggle to read or use a dictionary effectively.

She suggests that all of this results in uneducated people who are easier to control and influence

Text discussing the rise in conservatism linked to the decline of education and literacy crisis warnings by US teachers.

Text excerpt highlighting concerns about literacy crisis shared by US teachers discussing student engagement and media influence.

Alt text: Concerned US teachers highlight literacy crisis as many kids struggle to read and need more evening book reading.

Image source: @itsmethehbic

You can check out the full video here:

@itsmethehbic Take your child to a local library today!! #fyp#literacymatters#education#edutok♬ original sound – hbic| pgy-no🖤♊️🇳🇬

Another teacher joined in, agreeing and saying we should be very scared

Teacher standing in front of a chalkboard with math formulas, illustrating concerns about the literacy crisis in US education.

Image credits: Getty Images (not the actual photo)

Text image showing a concerned message about the literacy crisis from a former US teacher expressing fear for education.

ALT text: Concerned US teachers discuss the literacy crisis highlighting lack of reading, writing, and critical thinking skills in students.

ALT text: Text excerpt highlighting a teacher’s weekly writing assignment to address the literacy crisis in US classrooms

Alt text: Concerned US teachers discussing the growing literacy crisis and its impact on student assignments and learning quality

ALT text: Concerned US teachers discuss the literacy crisis and challenges students face in completing assignments and understanding material.

She proposed that schools and parents are failing these kids

Alt text: Concerned US teachers discussing literacy crisis and challenges with school board policies impacting student success

Text about US teachers warning on literacy crisis and lack of parental engagement in student progress communication.

Young woman wearing colorful glasses inside a car, representing concerned US teachers warning about literacy crisis.

Image source: @ok.audryy

Text about parents monitoring student grades discussing the literacy crisis concerned US teachers warn

Text from a concerned teacher expressing fear about the literacy crisis and its impact on future professionals and colleges.

ALT text: Concerned US teachers warn about literacy crisis as students struggle to read, write, and depend on AI in schools

Image source: @ok.audryy

Her full video can be found here:

@ok.audryy we’re screwed 🫶🏾 #education#teaching#teachersoftiktok#highschool#biology#scienceteacher#STEM♬ original sound – Audryyy🦋

Statistics prove teachers’ claims, showing low levels of literacy

Worried male teacher wearing glasses writing in notebook, highlighting literacy crisis concerns in US education setting.

Image credits: Getty Images (not the actual photo)

Text excerpt highlighting a literacy crisis where Illinois has 24 schools with no child reading at grade level, concerning US teachers.

Text showing Illinois schools with zero students proficient in reading on IAR or SAT in 2024 highlighting US literacy crisis concerns.

Man in front of Illinois schools report showing zero students proficient in reading amid US literacy crisis concerns.

Image source: @drippydarion

Alt text: Text discussing the literacy crisis with kids unable to read at first grade level in Chicago schools

Text excerpt about Illinois schools where kids cannot read at grade level, highlighting the literacy crisis warned by concerned US teachers.

Alt text: Excerpt showing concern about literacy crisis with parents not teaching kids how to read, reflecting worried US teachers.

Text discussing concern over parents not caring about children's schoolwork, highlighting literacy crisis warnings.

Check out the video in full here:

@drippydarion#greenscreen all I can say is wow #cps#viral♬ i was only temporary – my head is empty

This teacher even showed the real-life examples of her students’ poor writing skills

Text on screen about teachers warning that students have poor reading skills and lack reading comprehension literacy crisis

Close-up of a concerned teacher with glasses in front of a student’s literacy worksheet showing spelling errors.

Image source: @kingdesee

Example of 9th grade student writing sample showing literacy challenges discussed by concerned US teachers warning about literacy crisis

Close-up of a person wearing glasses with text about literacy crisis concerns displayed on a screen behind them.

Image source: @kingdesee

Text from a concerned US teacher warning about the literacy crisis affecting 9th grade students in classrooms today.

Image source: @kingdesee

Catch the full video here:

@kingdesee To be clear, I’m not mocking or making fun of these kids; this is not an individual student problem, it is a generational issue we’re experiencing #greenscreen#creatorsearchinsights#blacktiktok#fyp#foryou#foryoupage#foryourpage#blackwomen#education#teacher#teachersoftiktok#teacherlife#blackteachersontiktok#blackteachers♬ Bunna Summa – BunnaB

In 2024, most students failed to meet or exceed reading standards in most states

Young student reading a textbook in a classroom setting highlighting the US literacy crisis concern among teachers.

Image credits: RDNE Stock project (not the actual photo)

Let’s back up these videos of concerned teachers, ex-educators, and everyday Americans telling us that the state of literacy has reached new lows with some hard evidence, shall we?

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reports that roughly just one-third of US students in fourth, eighth, and 12th grades are skilled at reading and have “solid academic performance and demonstrated competency over challenging subject matter.”

In 2024, most students failed to meet or exceed reading standards in most states. In Illinois, Washington, D.C., and 40 other states, only one in three 4th graders met or exceeded these standards. Some schools in Illinois can’t even be proud about that, as none of their students managed to reach these stakes.

It’s very important that kids at these ages reach their reading and writing milestones, as it’s a critical time after which they won’t be able to absorb the curriculum during the remainder of their school years if they are illiterate. Later on, other subjects like social studies, math, and science can become incomprehensible. 

This is very troubling, as literacy supports many aspects of our lives, including our earning abilities, social and physical well-being, self-esteem, and even influences crime rates and hospital admissions. It also plays a big part in race and gender equality and can impact a person’s lifetime earning potential by 30-42%.

Fewer and fewer students are reading for pleasure

Young girl sitting on a couch reading on a tablet, highlighting concerns about the US literacy crisis among teachers

Image credits: Julia M Cameron (not the actual photo)

The literacy situation that is currently unfolding is attributed by some to the pandemic and lost classroom time. “The news is not good,” said Peggy Carr, commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics. “We are not seeing the progress we need to regain the ground our students lost during the pandemic.”

However, the literacy crisis didn’t start with COVID-19. Even before 2019, the results on national and international exams were declining. Many experts put the blame on the system itself, saying that schools with shortages of educators lack teachers trained in phonics and phonemic awareness, which are foundational skills for reading. The pandemic that caught us off guard merely worsened this situation. 

Some experts also point out that due to smartphones and increasing screen time, fewer and fewer students are reading for pleasure. In fact, 2023 findings show that only 14% of students pick up a book in their free time, which means the majority of them don’t read in a way that prepares them for learning tasks and critical thinking. 

“When a student reads for fun and enjoys reading outside of school, there are so many benefits that they might not even realize, like the background knowledge needed to approach different academic areas in school,” said Christina Cover, a special education teacher. 

All these moving parts combined result in the literacy crisis that the US is facing. However, “I would not say that hope is lost, and I would not say that we cannot turn this around,” Carr said. “It’s been demonstrated that we can.”

All hope is not lost

Parents and child reading a book together, highlighting US teachers' concerns about the growing literacy crisis.

Image credits: Antoni Shkraba Studio (not the actual photo)

To address the staggering rates of illiteracy, many states are establishing laws based on the science of reading. This encompasses five essential components for reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary development, and reading comprehension. However, this is just the initial step. Much more needs to be done in school besides implementing the science of reading guidelines. 

Hannah Schmid, a policy analyst at the Illinois Policy Institute, suggests, “More explicit action is needed to address the low rates of reading in Illinois public schools, such as more frequent assessments of early grade literacy, notice to parents when their students are identified as falling behind and interventions aligned with evidence-based literacy instruction.”

She explains that by implementing these practices, some states have already had positive results. “States such as Mississippi, Florida and Colorado have already paved the way in implementing these reforms, and all ranked above the national average in 2024.”

Parents should also get involved to help the literacy crisis. By instilling the skill and value of reading in their kids, they lay a strong foundation for their future learning that hopefully helps to combat rising levels of illiteracy. 

People in the comments are seriously worried about the state of literacy in the US

Comment expressing concern over the worsening literacy crisis as adults struggle to read and write in the US.

A social media comment from Nia blaming technology and new age parenting amid literacy crisis concerns from US teachers.

Commenter Donnatella explains why teachers discouraged using audiobooks over reading in middle school during early high school years amid literacy concerns.

Comment from a concerned US teacher sharing literacy struggles with students misreading key terms and difficulty with fractions.

Comment from library worker noting a decrease in children’s books checked out, highlighting literacy crisis concerns by US teachers.

Comment expressing concern about parents’ disengagement impacting education amid US teachers’ literacy crisis warnings.

Comment expressing concern about literacy and emphasizing early reading and education at home by a U.S. teacher.

Screenshot of a social media comment discussing literacy crisis and concerns about teaching phonics in US schools.

Comment from Miranda discussing concerns about literacy crisis and challenges with homework for young kids.

Comment about an elementary English teacher concerned about students struggling with literacy amid a US literacy crisis.

Comment from a concerned US teacher highlighting struggles with student literacy and impact of budget cuts on class sizes.

Comment from Emily discussing concerns about the literacy crisis and modern methods of teaching reading to children.

Comment from user Mackenzie about a grandma needing a new computer due to forgot email password concerns.

Social media comment discussing concerns about literacy crisis and the role of parents in children’s reading habits.

Comment from concerned US parent discussing literacy levels and disparities in rural versus other schools in North Carolina.

ALT text: Concerned US teachers discuss the growing literacy crisis and the need to improve reading culture at home and in schools.

Comment expressing concern about literacy crisis and declining education quality due to lenient curriculum changes

Comment from Kit Kat discussing literacy challenges since the 2000s, highlighting concerns about parenting and reading skills.

Comment from user Serena expressing concern about people using AI voice prompts instead of typing questions into Google, describing it as scary.

Comment by a concerned US teacher warning about the literacy crisis and the need for better parental engagement with kids' learning.

Alt text: Social media comment highlighting a 66% illiteracy rate in a city, emphasizing the growing literacy crisis in the US.

Screenshot of an online comment highlighting concerns about literacy crisis from US teachers discussing essay writing in 4th grade.

Screenshot of a social media comment expressing a controversial opinion amid concerns about the US literacy crisis.

Comment on social media expressing frustration about literacy crisis, blaming lack of parenting amid concerned US teachers warnings.

ALT text: Concerned US teachers expressing worry about the literacy crisis in a social media comment with high engagement.

Comment by Max expressing concern about literacy, stating at 15 they were writing full coherent stories, highlighting the literacy crisis.

Comment from a college student describing concerns about literacy skills, line breaks, and punctuation mistakes in peers' writing.

Comment on social media expressing frustration about phone use linked to literacy crisis concerns by US teachers.

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