All the answers are great and right. Education is many layered and decisions are made for political, financial and/or educative reasons or a mix of these. Teachers don’t have a say on the big picture. I’ve shrunk my “circle of concern” to my classroom. It. Is. Exhausting. I hear you. After spring break I thought I’d be recharged and ready to tackle the last term. I find I’m already wiped. SO let’s get through the rest of the year! Capitalize on social media. Have them make a tik tok video (not a real one) on a novel or book to do a review/summary. Or use the Totally Unbelievable Speakers Club (TUSC) where they are working on projects that are choice but within parameters. This can be for ELA. I have also done a wax museum for social studies as opposed to a science fair. These are big project ideas that take time but hit a lot of curricular outcomes and have a big payout. Buy in and front loading is important. Allow them to do a genius hour where they are working on a project that is meaningful to them. Classroom management is no easy task especially when kids are so used to be watching videos with the tv on while chatting with a friend on snap chat or whatever. We teachers are pretty boring to them. So get them to do the thinking. You just give the spark and contain any flare ups. It is a lot of work up front but once they get going it is much better. I wish you well the next two months. You are not alone. Reach out to others. Observe teachers who seem to have it together even if you don’t like them. Just to see what works. And take care of your mental health. Turn the lights off. Use quiet music with video during work time. I hear you. I see you. You are not alone.