Greenwood Commonwealth. Dec. 24, 2021.
Editorial: In search of 3,000 teachers
If you’re energetic, creative, able to plan ahead, good at managing children and have a thick skin to withstand criticism, Mississippi has plenty of jobs available for you.
The jobs are in public schools, where the state Department of Education has reported that 3,036 certified teacher jobs are vacant across the state. With about 32,000 people currently teaching in public schools, that means 9% of the jobs are vacant.
Mississippi Today reported that public education has another 2,500 job openings in administrative and supporting roles. All told, public schools are looking for 5,500 workers — everything from full-time teachers to assistant teachers, cafeteria staff and bus drivers.
Part of this employee shortage in schools may be due to fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, where generous government assistance is a likely contributor to the decision by a significant number of adults that they could make just as money by staying home than by working.
But being a teacher is not part of that calculus. Mississippi has had a shortage of certified teachers for several years — well before the coronavirus came along. This report is the state’s belated effort to survey all of its school districts to determine the severity of the problem.
Mississippi Today’s story did not include specific information by city, county or district, but it’s not too hard to predict that a lot of the job openings are in rural communities, where the talent pool is much smaller and to where it’s harder to convince people to relocate.
The Mississippi Legislature is expected to address teacher pay in 2022, following up on a $1,000 raise given this past year. If this happens, though, policymakers ought to keep something in mind.
The teacher shortage isn’t only about salary. Some teachers are leaving because of emotional burnout, fears about COVID-19 and a perceived lack of support from parents and administrators.
Teaching is a demanding, stressful job, which means employee turnover can be high. The challenge is encouraging good teachers to stick with it, and convincing more of them to work in the communities that most need them.
It will take more than money to accomplish that. Mississippi needs all ideas on the table.
___
The (Columbus) Dispatch. Dec. 22, 2021.
Editorial: Unity (and good statistics) needed to tackle students’ exposure to gun violence
On Monday evening, a group of educational, political and community leaders met in the boardroom at Brandon Central Services to discuss gun violence.
In some respects, it was not unlike crime prevention meetings that have preceded it. No solution was offered; no plan was formulated.
But that is not to say the meeting did not serve an important purpose.
The meeting was more narrowly focused on the impact of gun violence among students and what measures can be taken to ensure the safety of our schoolchildren.
During the meeting, it was stated that shootings in Columbus have surged from 58 in 2020 to 348 in 2021, a six-fold increase. Such an increase — if it were true — would be horrifying, but in fact these statistics represented a misleading and irresponsible apples-to-oranges comparison. When pressed for details on those numbers, Columbus Police Chief Fred Shelton said that the 2020 number (58) represented the number of reports of shots fired that resulted in the creation of a case file. In 2021, the department changed the way they tracked shootings, so the number for that year (348) represents every claim of shots fired, regardless of whether it was a credible claim.
Unfortunately, these misleading numbers don’t communicate anything.
Another number cited at the meeting did hold a sobering meaning, though.
71.
That’s the number of Columbus Municipal School District children who have directly been affected by gun violence over the past five years, either as the shooter or the person shot.
Regardless of their role, any child involved in gun violence is a victim.
There is, in some quarters, a belief that the violence we see among our school children is a reflection of the schools, that there is a lack of order and discipline in the school environment that spills out into the community. It’s far more likely that it is the other way around.
Backpacks aren’t the only thing kids bring with them to school. They bring with them the trauma, the fear, the frustration, the neglect, the poverty they find in their homes, in their neighborhoods.
Where gun violence is concerned, it’s not a school problem. It’s a community problem.
Our schools are a rallying point in times of trouble. That’s always been true.
Near the end of the meeting, county supervisor Leroy Brooks held up a photo taken in 2007, shortly after the community rallied in overwhelming numbers to pass a $22 million bond to build a new middle school. The photo included people of all demographics — Black and white, male and female, young and old. It was a snapshot of a community united by a common goal and purpose.
A similar photo was taken Monday night, with some attendees of the meeting rallied around CMSD superintendent Cherie Labat. In that photo are the same kinds of faces, the faces of a community determined to work together as one toward an important goal.
As a community, we need to maintain the composure necessary to tackle this pressing issue. A key part of that is relying on solid data in order to know what we’re dealing with. In a panicked state, we are far more likely to point fingers rather than work together, to mistake allies for adversaries.
Comparing apples to oranges to make gun violence seem out of control does not work to that end. Keeping numbers like 71 in mind does, though. That’s a number that should bring us together, not tear us apart.
___
Vicksburg Post. Dec. 23, 2021.
Editorial: Your life matters during the holidays and beyond
This week, members of The Vicksburg Post staff received an email with a single quote: “Things may seem stressful or depressing at times, but don’t give up. You can do whatever you set your mind to.”
With a recent uptick in suicides in our own community and across the country, Christmastime is a great opportunity to remind those who are struggling that their lives matter, that they’re worthy of love and that, most of all, no situation is so bad that snuffing out your own life will fix it.
In this season of giving, it’s important to remember the most important gift we’ve been given: our lives. To be alive is a precious thing; we get to learn, grow and connect with people. We get to fall in love, find things about which we are passionate. There are so many reasons to be happy and hold on just for one more day, even if it’s hard to realize it at the moment.
For loved ones of those struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts, there are some contributing factors. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, suicide rates have increased exponentially. With gloom and doom looming and rampant isolation from friends and family, it’s easy to fall into depression.
Even the amount of daylight we experience in the fall and winter months can contribute to one’s depressive state.
Many people report experiencing burnout, giving up hope of getting back to “normal.” During lockdowns, many people have resorted to drinking or eating too much, using drugs or doing other harmful things out of boredom or anger at the world and take it out on themselves.
Whether they lost a job or business, or because of inflation, many families aren’t able to give the gifts they would like or go on the usual holiday vacations they took. Some are even in more dire straits, wondering if they’ll be able to afford food or rent.
Loss of loved ones is also a contributing factor. Whether our loved ones died of COVID-19 or some health problem that couldn’t get treated because of lack of medical care, there is an increase in deaths of family and friends. This grief can be overwhelming.
But there is always hope. There is always a reason to keep going. You don’t have to suffer alone. There are resources available to you. Confide in someone you trust and get help.
Think of all the things you’d miss if you were gone, all the people who would miss you and how fulfilling your life can be if you only give yourself a chance. Above all else, take things one day, one hour, one minute at a time.
Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. Counselors are available 24/7 to assist those who are struggling with their mental health.
Our lives are the most precious God-given gift. Every day you wake up is an opportunity to make the world better for someone else — don’t waste it.
END
Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
