In this episode of the K-12 Confidential podcast, veteran educators discuss the dire state of the U.S. K-12 education system, focusing on the systemic issues driving teachers away. The episode features an interview with Kelvin Mack, a high school English teacher who left the profession after two years due to low pay and structural problems. Through this conversation, listeners gain insight into the challenges teachers face, such as emotional labor, lack of fair compensation, and the struggle to effect meaningful change within an oppressive system. The episode also touches upon the generational shift in attitudes towards work-life balance and the exploitative nature of the teaching profession. Key themes include teacher pay, structural sexism, neoliberalism in education, and the lack of teacher agency in curriculum and policy decisions.

00:00 Introduction to K 12 Confidential

01:25 Interview with a New Teacher

02:27 Challenges and Realizations

04:05 Reflections on Teacher Pay

06:43 Generational Differences in Teaching

09:19 Systemic Issues in Education

18:46 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

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