How good are our teachers? Seriously?
While the rest of us practise social distancing while working from home with intermittent trips to the supermarket to check if there’s any loo paper, our teachers continue to work in schools where the very concept of social distancing is absolutely laughable.
What would social distancing even look like within a school? Classrooms are places where, even in the best of times, teachers are having to continually remind their students: hands off, feet off. And many of the classrooms they teach in are brimming to capacity as it is, so the very idea of meterage between bodies is as impossible as it is absurd.
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And while the rest of us google things like: will a mask prevent corona? Our teachers are standing before their classes, saying the same things they’ve always said: stop chewing your shoelace, does someone need to use the toilet? And please use a tissue.
Now they’ve added a new refrain to the perpetual chorus on hygiene: wash your hands very well with soap, sneeze into your sleeve and wash your hands again, you can’t wash them too many times!
It’s certainly a great time to be a kid because as the evidence shows thus far, children aren’t affected by coronavirus as profoundly as adults.
It’s a pretty ordinary time to be a teacher though because although the general population is being advised to protect themselves in all the practical ways they can, teachers are expected to go about business as usual. I’ve always known that teachers are superheroes but seriously – even Superman had kryptonite.
This isn’t a new story. The expectation we have of our teachers is unreasonable and it has been for a very long time.
Their workloads are untenable, their conditions unsatisfactory and their voices unheard. For too long, our education system has been surviving on the good grace of our superhero teachers – so many of them wish to leave the profession but they stay for the kids and because they love the job so much.
And this is why we see our teachers continuing to turn up to their classrooms in the face of this pandemic.
Certainly – they’re going to work because the government says they have to. But teachers are showing up – not striking – because they know the value of the work they do.
They know that right now their students and their families need consistency, routines and reassurance. They know that kids are feeling scared and frustrated and anxious. They know that they’re providing the reassuring, familiar face that students and families need. They know that they are key lynchpins in the economic wheel. They know that their students need normalcy and distraction.
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In addition, our teachers are fielding the unique emotional needs of our young people as they experience this major health crisis.
They’re placating little ones with gentle reassurance, informing bigger ones with age-appropriate facts, and assisting the biggest ones with plans to navigate the potential disruption of their all-important senior year.
Right now, teachers are required to give of themselves in personal and emotional ways that are incredibly challenging – most mere mortals couldn’t do it.
And as they provide this service, teachers are swallowing down their own concerns and anxieties and vulnerabilities.
They’re living in perpetual hope that someone will step up and advocate for them – making a call that protects them as individuals and valued citizens.
They’re talking amongst themselves about what the tipping point will be for them personally as they consider their own needs and the needs of their families.
They’re dreading the time-consuming and burdensome task of shifting entire learning experiences online – although when that might happen is uncertain which, of course, adds to their sense of anxiety.
So what can be done? How can we support our teachers as they support our children?
We need to start valuing them – and not just right now when the chips are down and times are tough. But beyond the pandemic, when things are normal and we’re back to worrying about school sores and head lice.
We need to celebrate and honour our teachers. We need to recognise the highly personal yet professional work they do. We need to thank them for the commitment they show to our children every single day and most especially during times of crisis.
We need to stop demanding things of them and start asking them what they need to do their work well. We need to listen to them. We need to elect governments that treasure teachers and who let them do their work without telling them how it should be done. We need to advocate for them and speak up on their behalf.
We need to recognise our teachers for the superheroes that they are and start treating them accordingly.
Feature Image: Getty.
Top Comments
It is a great privilege to have the opportunity to work with the offspring of others . I’ve worked in schools in a variety of roles over the last 32 years. ( and often with unpaid holidays as many educators are on term time contracts). After a hectic day with 56 preps and my lovely coworkers, I am a little sad at the possibility of losing regular contact with our precious school family if schools are forced to close in the future. While I respect the choice to keep children home during this time I am thankful for whatever time we have left to educate the cohort of precious 4-5 year olds in our care. I believe the service educators provide is outstanding and that the emotional and mental benefits of a day of learning with peers is priceless. So many parents struggle to cope with 1,2 or 3 of their own children for a day confined indoors, yet teachers may have responsibility for up to 30 children and mange to conduct day after day of engaging and educational activities with less space, freedom and toys than those children may have at home. I have the utmost respect for anyone in a ‘caring ‘ occupation. I am also particularly concerned for the future emotional and mental wellbeing of all those who may have no choice but to isolate for any extended time. Thank heavens there are so many supportive parents out there and options to make any future home learning worthwhile.
I am shocked an appauled at the comments that have been placed on this letter. One thank you for the post. I believe that under these circumstances where we don't understand the severity of COVID-19, we are able to stand up and verbally destroy an article that was actually really positive to a profession. To all the comments here, don't hide behind a screen and hate bash anyone, teachers or not. I also believe that there are heaps of other professions doing it extremely tough, being laid off, not having work come in until who knows when, and the other carers, respite workers, nurses, doctors and cleaners that are preparing for a massive pandemic, its hectic. This is huge. You all need to be recognised. This is not a joke. This is going to take a toll on our economy and our living conditions as we know it. But this needs to be a time for community, one person suggests student to bring in soap because schools cannot buy it themselves, due to the general public buying it all up. Great idea! Lets put community first, lets share, lets give, lets understand that everyone has a place of value in their community. Teachers are just one small part of that, where they are most likely will contract COVID-19 from a student and currently the lowest age of a patient in ICY in Italy is 29 (Which puts any teacher at risk, not just elderly). So thank you for appreciating teachers and the fact that not all factors get heard, but lets not forget others arounds. And to the teachers here, this is not a sympathy vote, this is not sappy and assuming that you are wimps and need a pat on the head, this is appreciating your value. Maybe you need to appreciate yourself too.