These days, teachers are dropping like flies out of the classroom. More times than not, you hear about how exhausted they are from teaching, the lack of support provided by admin, the very challenging behaviors of our students, or the daily disrespect from the parents.
On top of all the responsibilities we carry with our roles within the school, we also have to carry the burdens of the students we encounter. Personally, I still find my flabbers gasted when I hear about some of the problems that our kids are going home to. Is teaching a calling, passion, or purpose? For sure. I also truly believe that the emotional side of it is not talked about enough. We have to find ways to hold space for the kids while also showing up with patience and compassion even when we are pouring from an empty cup. Those outside of the teaching profession have no idea what we encounter, but for the rest of us it’s a reality we deal with head on daily.
Once I learned that it’s more than making sure my kids make progress on their IEP goals and also the emotional responsibility we carry. Teachers likely know their students better than their parents (sad but true). We can tell when there’s been a change at home based on their behavior, when can tell when they didn’t sleep the night before, anxious, or hurting. We celebrate the small and big victories and comfort them through their disappointments. All of this is done all while carrying the load of twenty some odd children! Typing this out makes it seem more outrageous than I realize. I don’t think about this when I’m going into work each day. I’m thinking about how I can be my absolute best self for the kids that are hurting or need a little more love.
Acknowledging the emotional labor of teaching does not mean I regret choosing this profession. Two things can be true right? Many educators can attest to the impact being meaningful and the relationships being powerful. But recognizing the weight of the work we carry is also very necessary if we want to keep the people around who make the choice to do it. Educators need space to rest, to have boundaries, and to be just as supported as their students they serve. When educators are well emotionally, we are better equipped to do what we have done best since the beginning of time; show up, care, and help our students grow.
With teacher appreciation week coming up, so the teachers in your lives some compassion. Recognize their ability to continue to show up for their students, families, and their friendships. Lord knows we need it.
