- Our first guest is a high school history teacher
with 25 years' experience in the classroom.
Kurt Russell was named
the 2022 National Teacher of the Year.
Welcome.
Do your students call you Mr Russell?
- Thank you so much, and yes, that is totally fine.
- Okay, Mr Russell. Thank you for being with us.
So, we know that students are struggling
after the early months of the pandemic.
And we know that schools are struggling
with a teacher shortage.
So, what is the reality
right now inside classrooms like yours?
- Well, thank you so much for that question,
and, once again, thank you so much for having me.
In my classroom, we are learning, we are growing,
we are having tough conversations,
and it's because kids are involved.
And that engagement is happening each
and every day in my classroom
because I give my students an opportunity to share their voice
and to elevate their voices.
And I think that's key in order for us to make sure
that we progress educationally with all of our students.
- You're in Ohio.
There was a bill introduced in your state this year
that would ban certain ways for you
to teach about American history, including slavery.
We're talking about things like "The 1619 Project"
and diversity outcomes.
Those are included.
I understand that you teach an elective unit on oppression,
which includes lessons on the Black Lives Matter movement.
So, how will that bill's passage impact you?
- Well, I think when I started teaching,
I made a promise to myself and to my students,
and that promise was to make sure
I give them the best educational opportunities
I could afford them.
And as a history teacher, the only way in which I could do
so is by giving them the actual information.
I do not sugarcoat what I teach, but what I try to do
is to give them a framework in order for my kids to use
and for them to formulate their own discussions
and their own opinions.
- Mm. Is that controversial?
- For some, but not for my students.
My students don't see it as controversial.
My students see it as engagement.
My students see it as reality.
My students see it as an opportunity for us,
as a community of learners, to grow together.
- Well, we've been talking already about
the dissatisfaction that some parents
have with their children's K-through-12 education,
but Mr Russell, a Merrimack College teachers' survey
shows that teachers' job satisfaction
is now at an all-time low,
and only 12% say they are very satisfied.
That's a drop from 39% just a decade ago.
Can you give us some insight into why?
- Yes, I think the main reason is that a lot of times teachers
are not considered experts in the classroom.
When there are policies being made,
teachers are not necessarily at the table.
And I think that takes away from our thrill.
It takes away from our engagement within education.
By teachers not being a part of making policies,
it really shows the lack of respect that teachers have.
- You know, we wanted to get your perspective
because of your recognition as National Teacher of the Year
and also because there aren't many teachers
with your lived experience.
Just 20% of America's teachers are people of color,
and just 2% are Black men.
Why?
- I think because there's a lot of times
where educationally Black teachers
are not geared towards the profession,
whether it's pay, whether it's a lack of respect,
and I think we have to do a better job
of really introducing a pipeline
to introduce more Black teachers,
more teachers of color, into the field.
- Mm.
And what would be the solutions
to help with that, other than introducing it?
What incentives do people need
to have to want to go into teaching,
especially as they hear about these low-satisfaction numbers?
- Well, I think, number one, as I said earlier, is respect.
But number two, we can't forget about pay.
We have to make sure that we are comparable to other professions.
I see a lot of times where now you could go
maybe to a fast-food restaurant and make $15, $16 an hour.
There's no reason why a teacher should have a second job
to make ends meet.
And I think if we really increase pay,
that could be a start of introducing more young,
talented people into the profession.
- Well, Mr Russell, you have a platform
as National Teacher of the Year,
so, what is the most important message
you want people to hear right now?
- The most important thing -- as a teacher,
I would like to make sure
that students see themselves in the classroom,
to diversify the curriculum,
and also to diversify faculty and staff.
And if we can do that, I believe we can grow as a profession.
- Alright, thank you so much, Kurt Russell.