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Teacher’s Heartfelt Resignation: ‘I Can’t Stand Seeing My Students Upset Anymore’
Meet Sarah Thompson, a dedicated public school teacher from Polk County, Florida. Recently, she made headlines by resigning from her position and sharing her resignation letter on social media, where it quickly went viral, garnering over 65,000 shares.
In her letter, Sarah expressed deep concern about the misguided educational reforms that she believes are stripping away the joy of learning from her students. “Like many educators across the nation, I’ve become increasingly troubled by the changes that are taking away my students’ chances at a developmentally appropriate education. The principles of early childhood education are built on research that has stood the test of time, yet these reforms not only ignore this evidence but also compel teachers to implement methods that can actually harm a child’s development,” she wrote. Sarah is more than willing to back her claims with research, but she doubts anyone will ask for it.
Her passion for education took on a new meaning when she welcomed her daughter into the world just this past June. The thought of her child entering such a flawed educational system filled her with dread. “I refuse to subject my child to this chaotic environment, and I can no longer, in good conscience, be part of it myself,” she stated.
For years, we’ve been discussing the flaws in our educational system, which have only been highlighted by standardized testing and a structure that prioritizes order and assessments over meaningful learning experiences. Children remain children, yearning for engaging, dynamic learning opportunities. Instead, they are confined to desks, their recess time slashed, and their natural curiosity stifled. We’re turning them into little robots—overworked and overwhelmed.
“It’s not just that the kids cry,” Sarah continued. “Some act out to avoid being labeled ‘stupid,’ or because they can’t sit still anymore, or because they haven’t been taught the social norms of school. From my background in behavior disorders, I can confidently say that the issues lie within the system, not the children. The real disorder is in the system that forces them to tackle curriculum that is far too advanced for their age.”
I can relate to Sarah’s concerns. My own child recently began kindergarten after we moved from Florida, where the cut-off date for pre-k pushed him into a classroom as a four-year-old. The results were predictable—he struggled to sit still for six hours with just a 20-minute break. His teacher noted he was “distracted” and “tired.” Of course he was! He was just four, used to nap time and running outside for hours. It wasn’t long before the school psychologist reached out to discuss “interventions” for a child who is perfectly normal.
After pulling him from that environment and enrolling him in a private pre-k with a play-based approach, he thrived. He became cheerful and re-engaged with learning, no longer expressing sentiments like “I hate school.” As I contemplate sending him back into the public school system next year, I find myself scrambling to afford a private kindergarten. I want my child to succeed in public school, but the current climate is worrisome.
It’s refreshing to hear an educator like Sarah voice her frustrations. What are we doing in our schools? Teachers and students are both unhappy, and evidence of failure continues to pile up. Yet we persist. How long will we treat our students like experiments? How long will educators bear the blame for systemic failures?
“The disorder is within a system that restricts teachers from adapting instruction to meet their students’ needs,” Sarah pointed out. “If a teacher thinks a quick break is necessary or wants to extend a particularly engaging lesson, they face punishment. The system values test scores over meaningful teaching, and it’s simply not working.”
Sarah plans to head to Tallahassee with fellow educators to advocate for change. Good for her! We can’t stand by while our children are labeled as needing help simply because they’re acting their age.
It’s time for a change. Educators like Sarah shouldn’t feel compelled to leave a broken system; they should be heard and valued for their insights.
In summary, Sarah Thompson’s resignation highlights the urgent need for reform in our educational system. Her heartfelt plea serves as a reminder that the current approach to teaching often overlooks the developmental needs of children, potentially stifling their love for learning. As parents, we must advocate for a system that prioritizes meaningful education and respects the voices of those who dedicate their lives to teaching.