The Excelsior Citizen values the opportunity to provide a platform for community voices through our Letters to the Editor section. Please note that the opinions expressed in these letters are solely those of the authors and do not reflect the views of The Excelsior Citizen or its staff. We encourage respectful and constructive dialogue amongst our readers.
Most people think teaching is just about delivering lessons and grading papers. If only that were true.
Teachers do so much more than teach. Every day, they are counselors, social workers, referees, nurses, and even parental figures to kids who need more than just an education.
They comfort students who come to school carrying the weight of their world—hunger, abuse, neglect, anxiety, depression, grief. They celebrate with those who finally grasp a concept, and console those who feel like giving up. They listen to heartbreaking stories no child should have to tell. They help students manage emotions they don’t yet understand, to navigate conflicts that never should have started, and survive home situations that make school feel like their only safe place.
They deal with behavior that shouldn’t exist in a classroom—disrespect, aggression, disruptions that derail learning for everyone. They step in when parents refuse to, trying to teach accountability and kindness in a world that often shows neither.
On top of that, they’re drowning in paperwork, unrealistic expectations, constant policy changes, and a lack of resources—all while being told by the public, “You aren’t doing enough with what you have.”
And now, it’s getting even worse.
Missouri has continued to cut education funding, forcing schools to do more with less. Missouri’s teachers are among the lowest paid in the nation, #47, and with the rise of health insurance costs, many educators are barely making ends meet. Some take on second or even third jobs just to stay in the profession.
At the same time, society’s support for education is fading. Instead of being treated as professionals, teachers are blamed for everything wrong in schools. Parents and politicians fight against teachers instead of with them, and respect for the profession has dwindled.
The result? Frustration, stress, burnout. Teachers are leaving in droves, and fewer young people are choosing to enter the field. Who will be left to teach the next generation if this continues? Ask yourself, “Would you encourage your son or daughter to be a teacher?” If the answer is NO, then think about why not.
Even with all of this flying in their faces, teachers keep showing up. Not because it’s easy, not because they’re paid well, but because these kids need them.
So, the next time you hear someone say, “Teachers have it easy—summers off and short workdays,” please remind them that they carry far more than books and lesson plans. They carry the future.
Andrew Price
Excelsior Springs, MO
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