This is the general consensus of every teacher I have spoken to including members of my own staff. Posts all over social media discuss teachers being overwhelmed not only by the demands being placed on them, the resources they need to use, but also how many phone calls to make home and how often to be “seen ” by their students on video.
Administrator or not, one must agree that the amount of resources being provided for teachers is bot awesome and daunting. Teaching in and of itself is a career that prides itself and whose strength lies in the human interaction of the classroom. It is not only what is said or how it is said…it is the little things that happen in a classroom that truly matter.
If one were to look at the hierarchy of needs by the great psychologist Abraham Maslow- it is blatantly obvious that almost every need of a human being can be met by teachers in the physical classroom. I am not looking to begin some nature vs. nurture debate, what I would like to point out is that during this time both students and teachers alike are lacking many of the things Maslow’s research considered essential in healthy human beings.
Teachers are as isolated as the rest of the country. They are as anxious about what is happening and what is going to happen as everyone else. They are doing all that they can to ensure that the many lives they are a part of are feeling as little discomfort and anxiety as possible in this crazy situation.
Many teachers have children of their own and are trying to comfort their wn families during this time. Teachers are torn between the e mails and Zoom calls they must make for their students and the e mails and Zoom calls they have to answer for their own children’s teacher.
In order for people to be the best versions of themselves, they need to be able to care for themselves and feel safe and secure as well as able to successfully carry out the tasks in front of them. Teachers are hurting right now and rightfully so. I have absolutely no doubt that we as a society and we in education will not only grow but also thrive because of this situation- however, at what cost?
I , along with my partner, check in with our teachers every day personally. We call to ask how their children are, how they are doing, if there is anything we can do to help. We are not texting or making those calls as administrators, but rather as human beings. Some might argue that by offering to do things for teachers and to alleviate some of their stress that one is not delegating. I could not disagree more. I think the relationships with the teachers that are created and are genuine are the most important thing a leader can do ina nay organization.
When those who work with and for you function at their very best- the results are tremendous and the passion contagious. Who wouldn’t want that type of feeling and success in any organization? Especially in a school where all of that positive energy can flow to the most important people of all…the children.
So, yes it is understandable all are overwhelmed. Yes, there are many fantastic resources out there. Yes, there needs to be human contact between teachers and students even if through Google Meet. But please remember that teachers need the patience, resources, attention, nurturing, and love that their students do and if we continue to overwhelm them- how can the succeed.?