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| The daily grind of a long school year creates a stressful environment for educators. Photo source: telegraph.co.uk |
Much is written in the press
about the everyday stress faced by students and its impact on their success. What about teachers? Are
they affected by the stress vice?
My conversation earlier this
month with a first grade teacher who just navigated her initial year on the job
provided a glimpse into the stresses that come with a career in education.
As she explains it, teachers
typically roll-into the later part of summer and start of the semester on a
high. It's a fresh beginning with the classroom to set up, lesson planning and
the opportunity to connect with a new set of kids.
Within months though, the
high is tempered by the reality of long and grueling academic year. Student
behavior can grow boorish, as kids become more comfortable testing boundaries.
Plus, many parents ratchet
up the pressure on everyone – administrators, teachers and their own children. The result is a more
combustible and stressful environment. This can weigh on teachers impacting
their performance, health and wellness.
“There are many nights that
I lay in bed unable to sleep, thinking about the challenges I'll need to take
on during the next day,” the young teacher explained.
This led me to ask how her
study in college and experience as a student teacher prepared her to deal with
the stresses inherent in education. Are there support groups of teachers to
share best practices for stress mitigation? Does her principal encourage the
staff to prioritize health and wellness?
It was surprising to learn
that an overview of the tools to help manage stress and maintain a positive
outlook was not part of either her training or current work environment. The
sense I get is that most educators have to figure it out on their own.
We talked about the practice
of self-hypnosis, and how a simple deep breath and visualization of a
comfortable, soothing environment can re-charge a person emotionally and
spiritually. Plus, the recharge can be accomplished in just a few moments,
which is an ideal way to fill the brief time between classes.
She's going to give it a try
with the goal of mitigating the grind.
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