A Day in the Life of an Arizona Teacher: "I'm tired" 

After teaching grades 4 to 12 over a 34 year span I retired in 2013. I truly loved my job, but honestly, I would not recommend teaching to anyone now.

The majority of teachers I've met in my life time really want the best for their students and care about them as much as their own flesh, but society is tying their hands. They have become baby sitters as opposed to teachers.

This resonated with me. It looks almost identical to my day. I also live over an hour away from my school and rarely eat on my 25 minute lunch break. With the workload, paperwork, amount of students not on grade level, demanding parents, and traveling time I'm utterly exhausted when I get home. Then I make dinner and grade or continue writing an IEP. It's a depressingly thankless and demanding job. People say they appreciate teachers one moment but their actions say differently in the next...

Nursing is no different. Public service is lacking in every way.

You’re work does not go unnoticed. Thank you!

The problem is not money. For decades we've spent more on "education" per capita than most countries in the world and get less quality education in return. The problem is how the money is being spent. It seems the first thing a school district does upon receiving a budget increase is hire more administrators. Then they build new schools that they knock down in five to ten years. What's wrong with "education"... the US Dept of Education, the school boards, the NEA, and "parents".

I appreciate her. I wish teachers got the respect they deserve.

There will soon be a national movement where all teachers unite. I watched this and felt an instant connection.

I understand what she means by Class Size! I teach 9th graders...have 31-32 per class (I have 7 classes, 30 minute lunch period, and 45 minute conference period) I understand what it means to be tired. I get to school between 6:45/7:00 and leave at 5:30. EVERYDAY during the week! I update lesson plans, grade assignments, plan assignments, fill out 504 paperwork, fill out special education documentation for ARD meetings, attend ARD meetings, meet with counselor if I need to report bullying or discuss students who have attendance problems, call parents of kids that are failing, and meet with my team teacher.

What an Outstanding teacher, I can see love and dedication in her👏🏼

no dads at home and no men in the classrooms... what could go wrong

It’s amazing what’s happened in the lack of parenting over just one generation. When I was in 6th grade 35 years ago it was so simple and the students learning was easy. There were a few problem students but just spit wads and silly things like that. Teachers were not stressed like they are today. People are having kids they cannot raise properly that’s the problem.

It's too difficult to become a teacher in Arizona. The pay/benefits do not match the effort output.

My admiration for all the teachers out there.

I’m an 8th grade science teacher in CA and one of my sections is ELD science (mixed grades). 19 years teaching. I’d like to tell Ms. Garelli that she needs to move closer to Sevilla or get a job teaching closer to home. I used to commute 55 min one way to a school I worked in as a HS A.P. Did that for three years and got out of Dodge, finding employment now only 15 min from home. Trust me, you don’t owe anything to any school. Your mental health is what’s most important. Second, try Sketchers walking shoes. Extremely comfortable. You need the best shoes you can have for the rigors of teaching because bad footwear zaps your energy. Also why are you watching kids at lunch? That must be some AZ thing. In CA, we have duty free lunches. Of course our unions are stronger. You’re a great teacher and you work well with Latino kids. As a Mexican American, I can tell you have what it takes to do our Latino kids right by them. Keep up the good work!!!

Education needs to change and throwing more money at it isn't going to change anything. Often people don't appreciate what is free.

I was a substitute and long term sub for three years and I finally landed my first professional job this year. I’m beyond thankful for it but teaching is NOT easy. I’m teaching 3 different subjects (ELA, History, and Writing) and sometimes keeping up with everything can be incredibly overwhelming. I absolutely love my job but it is very challenging as well.

Next to the doctor that delivers you, your teachers are some of the most vital people in your life.

Your doing a wonderful job! The best teachers care, and you certainly go the extra mile for your students! Kids always remember these rare teachers and the payoff comes a decade later when they approach you in the supermarket to say thanks! Those are the moments that make it all worth while!

Is this a private school? These groups were damn near perfect. Zero disruptions. Seems unrealistic

Parents need to be parents to their kids and put them in their place. It’s not the teachers job to feed and care for them. Teachers can’t even discipline children but they need it more than education.

I have been substitute teaching in grades pre-K through 12 for two years. I have already been assaulted three times. One injury was so severe that I’m now under the weekly care of three doctors - at my expense because workers compensation closed my case - and I am in constant pain. I recently obtained the certification to become a full-time history teacher. I am afraid of future injuries but I’m going to become a full-time teacher because the kids who want to learn make it worth it.

It’s nice to know we have these videos and it’s nice to see the comment section being so positive towards teachers and how they should get paid more. The unfortunate truth is, it will never get any traction. But thank you

Much respect !

Lower ed to higher ed, Arizona doesn’t care about its teachers. Governor Ice-cream Scoop had to be shamed into listening to us. Arizona Republic, can you do a story on adjunct professors at our state’s colleges and universities?

She lives in a red state, so education takes a backseat in terms of funding.

You're an inspiration ❤

I'm glad I never had kids. Our society has become way over complicated, over populated and very corrupt.

Can't like this enough!

Good story. Keep it up!

I sub teach and a security officer as well. At times I'd work over 60 hours and barely make enough to live on plus taking French in my 2nd year.

Awe man I get it!!

Think about it 53 minutes divided by 32 kids = 1.6 minutes/per kid I would be lucky to remember all 192 (6 classes per) day names by the end of the year

Amazing

In my country, 1 teacher is to 60-80 students.

She is my hero

Lol @4:30 “a que se dedica tu papá? “A trabajarrrrrr?!”

That’s my teacher lol

God I'm glad I'm retired. I lasted 33 years teaching middle school and I don't miss a second of it. I have good memories but I don't miss it. It's in a crisis mode now and nobody even realizes this or seems to know as it's all so hush hush. Good riddance.

Why the hell does she work so far away from where she lives? She could work at pretty much any school she wants; they're not picky in Arizona.

Tired is to put it MILDLY!! It's not what it used to be! My teachers would turn over in their graves if they could see the DOWNFALL of what's become of the so called EDUCATION SYSTEM! Growing up 4 decades ago, from 9AM to 4PM, we had an hour of direct LEARNING in EACH SUBJECT, with BEAUTIFULLY illustrated books and workbooks. You could hear a feather fall upon the floor..because our parents had taught us to RESPECT those in authority! Spanish speaking children knew the English language fluently by the end of the First Grade! We did not have "Emotionally Disturbed" children, as that today who create such disruptions that motivated peers have to WITNESS, which ruins their learning environment! NO!!! We had UNINTERRUPTED LEARNING 6 hours per day! Today's techniques are a farce...teachers giving "high fives" to their students, giving out constant PRAISES when a disobedient student FINALLY decides to hand in work! (What about the feelings of the students who ALWAYS had in completed assignments?) Today's education system is run by nit wits who have made teachers become counselors, social workers, and glorified baby sitters, while parents sorely lag in appropriate parenting skills!!! Teachers are now at their wits end trying to teach and contend with disobedient, unruly, disrespectful children of drug addicts, alcoholics, and neurotic parents who should NEVER have brought these precious innocents into their dark world in which teachers must now find a way to cope!

Some people and some children just dont know about us teachers

-¿A qué se dedcia tu papá? -A trabajarrrrrrrrr That was funny!!

Who is at the school i’m one of those kids at Catalina

Teachers need way more support than they are getting. Should be at least two teachers per classroom. Oh, and a livable wage.

Teaching is a real job

Wassup ima in ms tisdale class ima tell every body about this chanel

Hi I with you we can fight for teachers for more pay and have less children in the class. Yes we need to fight as a whole to open a future for the teachers and students success 🤗🤗🤗🤗

Woooowww

cool

Amen to the 10th power.

Yes, it is underestimated. And yes, it's a lot more than passing out assignments. It's the same for permanent substitute teaching positions, in the sense that it is a lot more than that also.

I think a lot of working class parents tend to have an inconsistent and violent disciplinary style. They are usually busy working and have no idea what is happening at school. They are only involved when its something negative. School should be an extension of home not a place you leave your kids with strangers.

You’ll never see these same people out in the streets for a better education for our kids but for pay….. be right out

hey that was my teacher two years ago🩲😎

Sup that my teacher

This should be “day in the life of a working mom”. Welcome to the world of careers.

Teaching seems to be very unpopular currently. If you go to college you could study for some better careers.

How much of funding has historically gone to the classroom? How much is being cut to the classroom? How much goes to administrators, test-making and textbook companies (billion dollar industries thanks to the deprofessionalization of teachers), and the entire education industry which jumped on board the cash cow which politicians created by sticking their noses into education in the first place. What is being cut as far as I understand, is not what goes to the classroom, but all of the bloat surrounding it. They make the classrooms suffer to milk more money from taxpayers who will do anything for the sake of the children...except stand up against the real problems that schools face: government intervention and the breakdown of the family.

This is a MJ commercial.

Ms Garelli

I am dreaming to be an international teacher in USA. I am a Filipino teacher from Philippines.

@0:45 such misplaced maternal care. Someone else is raising her kids.

Any state that got a lottery sould not have any problems at any public schools

If we had public military schools, this wouldn't happen.

COVID 19 makes teaching a LOT more difficult! Hail to teachers!

Why is a science teacher teaching English? If you come into this country and can’t speak English the children need to be put into a classroom to learn it. This is bonkers. These kids need a special class with a teacher that can teach them English until they grasp it enough to join the normal class population

Easy job. Try hard labor 12 hours a day. Teaching is fun. I have done both. No comparison.

I want to be a teacher :3

Why don't you all quit the "social learning" and put their little eyes on you instead of up in each others' faces all day. As a substitute for 6 years from the "Old School" this makes me sick and it makes them sick!

The strain on teachers today is enormous. Why? Because a huge percentage of parents do not parent, do not raise their children to have a sense of decency and respect. Result: the classroom is a jungle. This drives the parents of the well behaved into alternative schools and home schooling, increasing the ratio of hooligans in our public schools and wearing teachers out.

comes down to the Gene pool..

5:45 ‘defunding public education is the problem’- true if you’re ‘stuck’ in gov’t system. Enlightened parents are opting out- home school, parochial school, etc.

I feel empowered over short minors.

Teaching students from different countries, cultures, attitudes, languages and characters. It's more like "tribulations" in academic settings.

Complaining about taking the dog out? Fixing a meal for her children?

Politicians ( and Lawyers ) who are clueless on the educational process, are dictating policy to educational professionals. Imagine a newly elected Congressman - a former Plumber - giving required guidelines to a professional Proctologist! Although both the Proctologist and the former Plumber are familiar with impacted pipes, advice from the Plumber is help the Proctologist does not need. Similarly, Teachers taking directives from Lawyers and Politicians is an accident waiting to happen; we are now seeing the results of that wreck. The Federal Government requiring the states to educate illegal alien students is another example of governmental overreach. ( And, yes, every school district in this country knows who is an illegal and who is not! )

add 4 or so terribly incorrigible students who disrupt the whole class and are also dangerous into the mix , and teaching begins to look like a very disappointing life decision. Are there whole counties like that around the usa?

Love and expectation of learning and zero discipline FOR CHILDREN!!! Okay...

Good heart

Is this AZ or Mexico? Absurd.

Teaching has changed for the worst. Student have become worse in behavior and they know they have power

Does she still call her students animals

I've never seen why people want to be teachers. I despise kids and will never be a teacher.

I see a certain demographic. Maybe the issue isnt teaching but perhaps open borders with a 3rd world country and minority parents who don't discipline

🤔

So does this mean that the multicultural experiment is a failure?

Don't underestimate the power of what a father and a male presence at home and in the classroom can bring. But this is what they wanted, so reap what you sow. This is why women are less happy on average than women in the 1950s.

The education system is awful here in South Carolina. My son has autism so I teach him one on one at home. The school system here has 20 autistic people in one classroom. That's nuts. Thr school system needs to be revamped.

Well, fire the bottom 10% teachers and do it every year !!! For a start.

You got one woman that flew warthog warplanes for America and you got another woman that was wearing tutus protesting against our military. Who would you vote for 🤷

If we got rid of the stupid out of control OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING for k-12 teachers in this country the teacher shortages would probably go away. I'm the author of EIGHT DAYS IN AN INNER CITY SCHOOL

The ideal number of students in any classroom is 16 And each class should have two teachers. One male and one female, so that the students receive the views from the both sexes. Plus 16 students can be devided into four groups to help develop team work among the students. And only English should be taught in school if a student can't speak English they should not be there. This is a price to pay to become a member of society you do your part and we'll do ours.

Wow, they are on tablets at school?? That's interesting.......

Teachers are great but the ones that dont go back to work!! Resign or get a different job!!!!

It’s worse now since the pandemic has accelerated everything

Need classes in low, medium, high IQ levels. Got that ?

Sounds like life. Get over it.

Let me guess, Arizona is a red state.

Lol the parents didn't even teach them English