Why Not?
Although it seems actual data are slim, it’s still hard to believe that teachers and administrators aren’t suffering greatly during this pandemic. With anxiety at the very least. But also with
stress,
frustration,
exhaustion,
overwhelmedness.
And burnout.
Many teachers have been working 24/7 during the pandemic. Many have been working 24/7 teaching their students AND managing the learning of their own children. Which would be, then, 48/14, which is impossible. Which is the point.
Many teachers have switched to online learning and then back and forth from online to hybrid without any helpful training on (1) how to teach under either condition and (2) how to survive the chronic uncertainty. (As if any of us knows.) Many have been teaching students they have never met in person and rarely see on screen because their videos are turned off. Many have been worried about their students, themselves, and their loved ones relentlessly, feeling responsible for situations that are beyond their control.
Simple statement: If you are one of these teachers or administrators, you need relief.
Simple question:
Are you getting it?
Unfortunately, by “relief” I don’t mean “a break.” Like an all-expenses-paid beach vacation. (Although of course we all need that.)
What I mean is a reduction in emotional distress and an increase in workable plans that will reduce your stress going forward, forever and anon.
This kind of relief, I’m sad to say, is not earned. It does not appear when the workday is done. It is not a natural consequence of doing your job well.
Relief requires work. Specifically (in my view), emotion work.
Fortunately, emotion work isn’t hard. It just requires a caring and informed coach. Or a caring and informed peer group. And a little bit of time. Which pays itself back exponentially in feelings of relief (there it is again),
connectedness,
understanding,
empowerment,
and maybe even
joy.
Another simple question: If you are not getting relief, why not?
Which brings us to this week’s mantra: Why not?