1 out of every 5 kids will never walk across the stage at their high school graduation in the United States: http://goo.gl/pWe7WK
In the US, the percentage of students eligible for free and reduced breakfast/lunch is just under 48%: http://goo.gl/TLvXIh
Most states in the US spend 200% or more per year on prisoners than they do on students: http://goo.gl/LEa84i
Less than 20% of students in the US are enrolled in some type of foreign language class: http://goo.gl/EpdDU
The average age of a school in the US is around 40 years old: http://goo.gl/9O6Nc2
Almost 40% of schools in the US still don't have adequate and widespread WiFi access: http://goo.gl/StL4rV
About 30% of teachers who start teaching will leave the field of education by their 5th year: http://goo.gl/XWBnQe
14%, or roughly 32 million American adults, can't read: http://goo.gl/Qrd9lV
So, the next time you feel like you are spinning your wheels or feel like what you do doesn't matter and won't make a difference, keep some of these statistics in mind.
Your job isn't easy and the list of variables you can't control that make your job even more difficult is long.
But...
You matter and what you do every single day with your students doesn't just make a little difference... it's makes THE difference.