Teachers in South Florida “shoulder the load” due to shortages and express concerns about social media in a study

SOUTH FLORIDA: 63% of respondents to the study expressed concern over staffing shortages, which can occasionally result in overcrowded classrooms. 92% of respondents are worried about the effects of social media on children, and 88% of respondents agreed that smartphone use in schools should be limited. “For some of them, it’s actually best to avoid social media because it makes them anxious and depressed, and it’s an age where fitting in is so important,” Howard said.

“The impact technology (phones) and social media has on children and young adults,” wrote a teacher in a comment. Except for the brief synopses from dubious sources on social media, nobody reads anymore. Youngsters struggle greatly to think critically and to think (and make judgments) for themselves.

Smartphones banned in school

According to Howard, “it leads to fighting and a lot of problems that could be avoided if it just wasn’t there.” Jen Kaelin, a Jose Marti MAST Academy teacher, claimed that “the kids are completely distracted by the phones.”

Last year, she instituted a smartphone ban in her class. “They’re so much more engaged, they’re participating, with the phones locked up away from them,” Kaelin stated. How about security? Should Miami-Dade follow Broward’s lead and equip high schools with metal detectors? In our poll, 71% of teachers indicated they did. And I feel safe; prior to this, I worked in an inner city and felt comfortable there. You know what made me feel safe there? I felt safe because of the parents, the parents of my kids,” Howard remarked.

Thus, while it’s evident that teachers encounter challenges, it’s also evident that their commitment to children and the fulfillment they derive from positively influencing young people keeps them in the classroom. Michael Floyd, an educator at Jan Mann Educational Center, stated, “The good days and the rewards outweigh those tough days.”

Concerns about standardized testing taking too much time away from teaching courses and the need for more mental health counselors in schools were also raised in the study. One educator expressed her hope to us that legislators will consider the findings of our poll when formulating educational policies.