At the beginning of Able’s epiphany, he verbalizes the problem:
…and care and care and care and care. — You have to! They need you! — as if this caring was a sort of payment, virtue as its own reward, and not, in fact a type of fee, or toll, taxing me and drawing me down.
Is the cost of caring too much? Why should Able (or any teacher) care when educators are constantly lambasted for complaining too much, not doing enough for students, and showing ingratitude? Teachers should push that boulder uphill, keep our mouths shut, and be happy. If teachers don’t like it, they should quit and get a real job.