10 Abbott Elementary episodes that point out real issues in schools

Abbott Elementary Has several episodes that cover real-life issues facing the public education system today. ABC’s hit sitcom Abbott Elementary is one of the best comedy shows on air. From memorable moments to funny characters, The show is full of heart and sincerity. Abbott Elementary Even has a pattern of bringing in iconic guest stars – including Ayo Edebiri and Bradley Cooper – who make the show shine even more. Abbott Elementary Season 4 is set to premiere on October 9, 2024, and the show has already covered many issues that schools often face today.

Abbott Elementarys effort and care in crafting storylines that revolve around real-life issues that public schools face is one of the reasons why this show is so special. Some of the issues are well-known, such as lack of funds and competitive charter schools. however, Abbott Elementary Covers other topics that are also important to discuss, such as diverse teaching methods and the delicate relationship between teachers and parents of their students. No matter what Abbott Elementary Explores, the show always does an excellent job of portraying them.

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Season 1, Episode 3: “Wishlist”

School supplies are expensive for teachers

Abbott Elementary Season 1, Episode 3, “Wishlist,” dives into one of the most important issues facing public educators today –The education system does not provide adequate school supplies for their teachers and students. Although the issue is part of a much bigger problem – lack of funding – the issue of school supplies is significant on its own. In this episode, Janine desperately wants Barbara to post her school supply wish list on TikTok, hoping people will contribute. Barbara insists she’s fine, but Janine and Ava go behind her back and post a viral TikTok of Barbara’s school supply wish list.

When Barbara learns the truth about Ava and Janine’s TikTok, she’s not necessarily mad, though She wants to teach her students to make the best of what they have to build their strength and character. However, Barbara ends up keeping the school supplies because they have become so expensive in today’s economy that she can’t even afford her own stapler. This episode teaches a valuable lesson about the importance of humility and recognizing that sometimes, humility can only do so much—and teachers desperately need better school supplies.

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Season 1, Episode 11: “Desking”

The relationship between teachers and students

Abbott Elementary Season 1, episode 11, “Desking,” covers a topic that isn’t often discussed as an education issue, but it’s just as relevant. In the episode, students at Abbott Elementary School participate in a national TikTok trend called desking, which challenges students to jump from desk to desk in the classroom without the staff noticing. Once the teachers discover the trend, they become determined to stop it and try different ideas to end it. However, Barbara points out that they are unsuccessful for one crucial reason –The teachers are not thinking about their students as students but rather as peers.

Janine and Jacob believe they can find the right way to connect with their students, but kids can’t connect with their teachers. Most students think their teachers are weird or ugly. It does not diminish the impact teachers have on their studentsBut most kids don’t realize it until they’ve grown up. They will eventually love and appreciate their teachers, but while they are kids, they will not be able to relate to them. The staff at Abbott Elementary School needs to stop treating their students like they will take their teachers seriously because they won’t.

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Season 2, Episode 1: “Development Day”

Overcrowded classrooms and teacher shortages

Although Abbott Elementary Season 2, episode 1, “Development Day,” primarily focuses on Janine dealing with her breakup. However, the episode also introduces a storyline that is one of the most critical issues in today’s education system –The lack of teachers producing overcrowded classes. Melissa Schemmenti, Abbott’s Principal, Ava Coleman, told the teachers that some classes had to merge because of a teacher shortage. Unfortunately, Melissa Schemmenti’s class happens to be one of them. After the merger, Melissa has a class of over 30 students in multiple grades.

The plot continues Abbott Elementary Season 2, Episode 3, “Story Samurai,” when the story depicts Melissa really struggling with teaching so many kids at once. It highlights the real issue that teacher shortages cause and how students are the most affected. Melissa can’t give her students the proper care and attention they deserve because she has so many of them. Melissa eventually accepts a teaching assistantship, but that doesn’t fix the issue. It is imperative that the education system examines the causes of teacher shortages and implements additional resources to avoid overcrowded classrooms.

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Season 2, Episode 7: “Attack Ad”

Charter schools hurt public schools

in Abbott Elementary Season 2, Episode 7, “Attack Ad,” a new commercial painting Abbott Elementary School in a negative light to support charter schools casts off the teachers. This episode marks the beginning of a season-long arc with Barbara’s former student, Draemond Winding, championing to make Abbott Elementary School a charter school. It is one of Abbott Elementarys most critical stories because It highlights the threat charter schools pose to public education. Although charter schools work well for some students — including Draemond — there are more negatives than positives.

Charter schools often receive more resources than the public education system. Abbott Elementary Also shows that charter schools do not accept struggling students. Teachers cannot plan their own curriculum and educate their students in the best way possible. Thankfully, Abbott Elementary School won the fight against Draemond’s Legendary Charter Schools. however, This storyline proves that charter schools aren’t always the better option. They can be helpful, but they come at the expense of public schools, and they don’t always prioritize the teachers and students.

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Season 2, Episode 20: “Educator of the Year”

The balance between parents and teachers

in Abbott Elementary Season 2, Episode 20, “Educator of the Year,” Janine encounters an unexpected hurdle with a student’s parent. After conflict with her student, Deshaun, who has been misbehaving all year, Janine sets up a meeting with Deshaun’s mother to discuss his disruptive behavior. However, the meeting quickly turns sour once Deshaun’s mother considers it a waste of time and calls Janine the worst teacher ever. After almost two seasons of Abbott Elementary, It’s absurd that anyone would think Janine is a bad teacherBut the experience provides an important lesson that Barbara repeats throughout the episode.

There will always be people who don’t think a teacher is good enough for their child and don’t like the teacher’s methods. However, Janine made an excellent point – parents and teachers must work as a team to ensure the best possible outcome for the students. Janine tries her best with Deshaun, and she can only keep trying to get through to him, even without his mother’s cooperation. This situation does not make Janine a bad teacher – if anything, Janine recognizes the importance of the parent-teacher balance in shaping a student’s life, which makes her an excellent educator..

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Season 2, Episode 21: “Mom”

Teachers are often underpaid

in Abbott Elementary Season 2, Episode 21 Janine’s mother unexpectedly visits her daughter at school. Although this episode focuses on their relationship, there are some undertones of a storyline that has been building since the beginning of the show and continues to build after this episode. Janine’s financial difficulty with her mother is part of a larger issue– A teacher’s salary is often huge. Janine has been a teacher for several years now, and although she has a partner most of the time, she can only afford a weekend getaway with no money to spare.

It shouldn’t be that hard for Janine to get a cheap weekend unless her wages are low. According to teachers of tomorrowIt is A teacher shortage because they work long, time-consuming hours just to get very little money. Janine puts in so much effort, devotes most of her time to her work, and she still struggles financially because of her low salary. People are no longer interested in becoming educators because of these reasons. The education system needs to improve how it treats its teachers. Teachers’ wages must rise significantly in order to end this shortage.

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Season 3, Episode 3: “Gregory’s Garden Goofballs”

How the issues and disabilities of students are dealt with

Abbott Elementary Season 3, episode 3, “Gregory’s Garden Goofballs,” depicts Janine’s attempt to get an ASL interpreter for one of the students at Abbott Elementary School. While Janine is successful, The show highlights how difficult school districts are when accommodating differently-abled students. Janine is successful because she never gives up and finds creative solutions. However, in an average situation, the student may never have received an ASL interpreter because the education system limits itself. It is more critical than ever for school districts to step up for students and provide them with the opportunities that every child deserves.

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Season 3, Episode 4: “Smoking”

Different teaching methods

in Abbott Elementary Season 3, Episode 4, “Smoking,” Janine struggles with accepting a substitute teacher for her class. Janine currently works in the school district in Washington DC as part of her fellowship, which requires a substitute teacher for her second grade class. When Janine visits one day, she discovers the substitute’s teaching methods are strange. however, Unconventional teaching methods do not make the educator less qualified. All teachers decide the methods that work best for them and their students. Substitute teaching methods are unique, just like Janine and every other teacher.

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Season 3, Episode 6: “Willard R. Abbott”

Racism in education

Abbott Elementary tackles one of the most delicate subjects in education in season 3, episode 6, “Willard R. Abbott”: racism. The school receives the honor of a historical landmark because of its namesake. However, it turns out that Willard R. Abbott was a segregationist. Despite attempts to find another Willard R. To Abbott’s credit, Abbott Elementary School fails to become a historical landmark at the end of the episode. however, “Willard R. Abbott” provides a basic history. Racism is embedded in American history, and the public school system is not immune to this fact.

Most school districts will change their schools only after receiving criticism because they care more about the optics than the system that honors racist historical figures in the first place. Janine eventually realizes that Abbott Elementary School doesn’t need a plaque to be special because It’s the teachers and students who show up every day that make this school unique. Therefore, Abbott Elementary School was the first school to employ a group of black teachers. However, racism is still prevalent in the education system, and the fight for change must endure.

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Season 3, Episode 12: “Mother’s Day”

Lack of funding for school events and projects

in Abbott Elementary Season 3, Episode 12, “Mother’s Day,” James Hill struggles to fund a field trip to the Natural History Museum. Although field trips are not the focal point of education, they are still crucial and provide an excellent learning experience for students. Although Jacob found another field trip excursion that would be free, Public schools often do not receive adequate funds that allow their students to receive the best possible education. There must be more funding for various educational efforts because the lack of funding is one of the reasons public schools often struggle.

Source: Teachers of tomorrow