The Overwhelmed Teacher
The overwhelmed teacher does more than the time and supplies given to her to complete the task. We think constantly about squeezing more into already packed days. Yet these types of personal vs professional self conflicts are normalized in the teaching culture. Also, depending on her time table and the classes assigned to her a teacher be continuously tired during the school day . Nevertheless, every teacher is being asked to GIVE MORE. It is for the children.
The time required is an afterthought. Also, the teacher’s well being as a cost of productivity is almost always a well bargain priced. They say to you, well it’s your job or even more fancy. The professional expectation is that you get it all done on PERSONAL time while being UNDER supplied and NOT supported. Remember it is your job.
The education system and in particular some school cultures survive on the porous boundaries of teachers and a willingness to exploit the commitment of the noblest of professionals. The teacher is often unable to say no. No, being a complete sentence and a completed through expression. No, I am not able to give the extra time because I am tired. No, I am not willing to give the extra time because all year these students were willingly missing classes. Sometimes no, is interpreted as disruptive on your yearly appraisals. No can also be interpreted on your appraisal as an unwilling, and unco-operative. Healthy boundaries are usually weaponized when your promotion is dependent on the feedback from others. Therefore, there is a cultural jilt that accepts the mistreatment of the teacher.
As a Visual Arts teacher we are usually time tabled for the bare minimum time outlined by The Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC), The student is given 180 minutes per week. We are given one hour and a half per session for teaching and learning yet to answer 1 question the student is required 360 minutes which is 6 hours. So, they are required to learn to work for a longer time in one sitting that they are given in a week to learn. Hence, the cost of additional time is at the personal expense of the teacher.
The teaching spaces are congested, under supplied and teachers almost always never supported. Which leads to continuous burnouts. Nevertheless, the education system in my part of the world thrives when its main source of workers is overwhelmed, rigid and anxious.
However, healthy boundaries protect the individual from the continuous demands of the system. Healthy boundaries can lead to improved mental and physical health for a teacher. Healthy boundaries have the potential to make her feel safe. Boundaries are important at all levels of teaching.
