Of the hit work TV comedies in television history, ABC’s Abbott Elementary stands out for pinpointing the myriad of problems facing American public schools. While these problems are not new to those working within the system, but to many outside of education, the problems seem to be as such. For nearly 20 years, public education has increasingly become a political pawn.
With many states currently banning books written by or featuring main characters who are black, people of color, and LGBTQ+, teachers are struggling even more to ensure their students are properly represented (and educated). Historically, television and film have been the petri dish for change, and with the reliability in Abbott Elementary, the potential teachers will be better supported across the board. Here are 10 things Abbott Elementary portrays perfectly about the American public school system.
10/10 Janine’s target finds
Janine wore a beautiful green dress with flowers from Target, which may have been a splurge. According to the National Education Association’s 2019 report, the median teacher salary in Pennsylvania was $67,535. Teachers are paid 10 months out of the year, which means they have to stretch their pay during the summer months. In Pennsylvania, the average teacher takes home $55K-$61K after income tax, depending on marital status. Since Janine is a sophomore teacher at Abbott Elementary, she is well below the average teacher salary.
9/10 Barbara’s inability to get a decent desk for students
When Barbara Howard (Sheryl Lee Ralph) discovers that one of her students is in a wheelchair in Season 2 of Abbott Elementary, she struggles to get a decent desk for the student. Despite public schools employing an inclusion model, many teachers are left to support their physically or mentally disabled students. Simply put, inclusion is the most equitable form of education. Still, government funding for education can favor one district over another, making the financial distribution less equitable.
8/10 Corridor lighting
Janine is a fixer in Abbott Elementary, and yet it backfires when she tries to fix the flickering lights of a hallway. A report for the Government Accountability Office found that most districts have their own problems to deal with when it comes to updating their facilities, something the state is concerned about. So when a district needs to update its facilities, such as electrical wiring, the public votes to fund it. While state and local funds can be used to replace a light bulb, updating the entire electrical wiring requires public funds.
7/10 Gifted Programs
Gregory’s opposition to Abbott Elementary’s gifted program is based on justice and good education. Gifted programs, such as American news reports, are unfair for a number of reasons. First, the definition of gifted is horribly vague: a student who can or can perform. Most students meet the capacity portion of this definition, given the appropriate learning environment. Second, Asian, white, and higher-income students overcrowd these programs, meaning black and brown students are left out.
6/10 Ava’s lack of teaching experience
Ava, the director of Abbott Elementary, got her job by blackmailing the superintendent. While this may seem exaggerated for comedic effect, the truth is quite startling as each state has different requirements for their patrons. The Pennsylvania Department of Education, for example, requires directors to have a bachelor’s degree, good moral character, three years of relevant experience, and pass programs and tests. Based on these requirements, almost anyone can be a client. Even the best of intentions can leave teachers and students feeling unsupported.
5/10 Grade retention
Janine considering stopping an Abbott Elementary student didn’t come lightly. Many teachers see grade retention as a last resort, as they have ten months to assess and intervene on all their students to bring them or keep them on the average for the grade. EdTrust lists four reasons why keeping grades is unfair; one of those reasons is that black, hispanic, native and english learners are overrepresented in retention rates compared to their white and asian classmates.
4/10 Janine and Barbara Crowdfunding on TikTok
Abbott Elementary is an underfunded public school, which means that when their teachers want to do something extra, they either spend their own money or turn to crowdfunding. While Barbara and Janine went on TikTok, many teachers turned to Twitter or went straight to Donors Choose. The National Education Association reports that crowdfunding is a necessity for teachers in schools in poverty.
3/10 Jacob’s (mis)use of Slang
Jacob often tries to connect with students and fellow Abbott Elementary teachers by using jargon or terms that he doesn’t quite understand. Using slang may seem like a good way to break the ice with students, but it can mislead students. One factor contributing to Jacob using slang to interact with students could be that he is one of the few white teachers in a school with a majority population of black students.
2/10 Melissa’s burnout wisdom
Early in Abbott ElementaryMelissa drops wonderful advice for Janine that all teachers need to hear: “We care so much that we refuse to burn out. If we have a burnout, who is there for these children? That’s why you need to take care of yourself,” (Season 1, Episode 2). Balancing work and personal life, taking time off, and building a solid community can help anyone, especially teachers, get burned out.
1/10 Gregory’s passion versus his father’s wishes
Gregory’s father (Orlando Jones) tells his son to get a real career. Many teachers struggle with a lack of support from their friends and family simply because of the pay. Teaching can have many problems, but for some, the benefits outweigh these problems. Educators are constantly growing and learning while creating strong community bonds. This is often illustrated by the relationships that the cast of Abbott Elementary put together.