This thread is a good reminder, and should be read by every educator, especially those of us in #OntEd #nocutstoeducation
Teachers need rest. Sick days, short term disability, and long term disability coverage. Health benefits including massage, chiropractic, podiatry, naturopathy, prescription drug coverage, and psychotherapy coverage.
They need prep periods that are uninterrupted time to prepare, photocopy, contact parents, mark, have meetings with admin or guidance, eat their lunch from 3 periods ago, pee, text their partner, read the news, drink a coffee.
They need to be treated like professionals, and trusted to use their time professionally. They should not be forced into professional development that isn't useful or productive; PD that is a waste of time or inapplicable to their daily job is an unprofessional use of their time.
Teachers need to be consulted on major changes in their departments, in their schools, in their Boards or districts, and in curriculum consultations through the Ministry of Ed. They are the experts! The front line! The here and now! They know, and better: THEY CARE.
Burn out happens as a direct result of giving tiny pieces of themselves away, saying yes to things big and small, and losing valuable time with family and friends outside of work, away from hobbies and interests, and neglecting health and wellbeing so they can "be a good teacher"
I see MOST of my educator colleagues work to the bone, say yes to EVERYTHING, gain weight, lose hair, stop sleeping, fight with their loved ones, and need to find ways to cope... imagine having to have coping mechanisms for the job in order to do the job!
And they do it all with a smile on their face, knowing, that kids go home to hear their families talk about spoiled, lazy teachers; then kids bring that bias back to school and fight their teachers on everything from grades to due dates to expected classroom behaviour and habits.
Teachers do, of course, martyr themselves, but they are also are expected to fight to protect a system that is funded by the same people who call them lazy and spoiled, and who tell them to take a wage & benefit cut because if they were good at their job they'd do it for less $.
I am tired, friends. I am so, so tired.
