Summer-What is that?
It never fails, each summer when I am catching up on doctor appointments, home repairs, and spending quality time with my family etc... I hear... "Oh, you're a teacher... must be really nice to have weekends and summers off". I smile and shrug it off because I've heard it before. Nonetheless, it leaves me wondering about how many in the public perceive the job of educators, administrators, and other school personnel. And, even summer time is often utilized for planning lessons, going to conferences for professional development, graduate work, professional reading, and a host of other activities that in some way are related to being better at our work. It seems to me that so many people are unaware of the demands that serving a school community brings with it. The list of duties and responsibilities are endless. But, we do it because we want to serve and make a difference in the lives of others (and the money $$$$ LOL!).
Research indicates that "the emotional needs, labor, and work for a teacher are significant compared to other professions" ( Mei-Lin, 2009, p. 194). Furthermore, the high demands of the profession often lead to teacher burnout. The following chart offers an interesting look at the causes of burnout. This provides school leaders with a possible focus on where to offer support to decrease burnout.
Summers-What is that? For many teachers, this is not a suffient amount of time to recover and supports are needed throughout the school year to avoid burnout.
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Reference
Mei-Lin, C. (2009). An Appraisal Perspective of Teacher Burnout: Examining the Emotional Work of Teachers. Educational Psychology Review, (3), 193.
You said a mouth full. On the eve of my trip to a tropical island, I am working on GSU work. Now this is our last summer and I do not plan on being in school next summer, but I have definitely worked in some form EVERY DAY of this summer so far. So I am looking forward to getting away to a location where I cannot receive non-emergency calls or text.
ReplyDeleteI feel that the ability to check email from home has killed the true summer vacations. As an AP, I check my email often just to make sure my principal or staff is not in need this summer. Any vacation I go on, I check email. There is always this anxiety when I check it because there "may" be work that needs to be completed.
We are constantly trying to perfect our craft so work never ends. This is why we fill our summers with professional development and planning for the next year. I am looking forward to truly taking the next few weeks off, because before you know it we will be back to work.
Steal any time you can to do what you love!!!!! ( I am telling myself this as well!!) Enjoy the rest of your summer!!
Katrina, I hope you enjoy that getaway. I am trying to get away too. I agree that so much needs to be "handled" at a moments notice and there is always that bit of anxiety that if the emails aren't being answered something will go wrong. I'm trying hard to balance work, school, and play... believe me :)
DeleteHi Lissette,
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain. This is the second summer in a row that I've not been able to fully make my own, but I do steal some time when I can. I have (maybe) two weeks of time before I have to report back to work for the 2017-18 school year and I plan on taking some time for myself and family so that I can be able to go into the year refreshed.
Next year will be different. I have absolutley no plans to work, although I do plan on attending some professional development opportunities with some of my teachers for about a week or so next summer. Katrina's right: we are constantly seeking to perfect our craft, so it can feel as if the work never ends. I don't know if I'd have it any other way though.
I know what you mean, Adrienne. There is a lot of work but so much satisfaction that comes with it.
DeleteCouldn't agree more. As I'm on vacation, I'm answering emails and texts concerning programs that occur the week before we start back. I also worked the first three weeks of June at the school in order to earn a little extra money. Those not in the teaching profession almost always seem to undervalue the amount of time spent by teachers during the school year and during the summer. Like you said, the easiest thing to do is to just smile and let it go.
ReplyDeleteI so agree, I have also heard it too. Your'e a teacher must be nice to have the entire 2 months off. I don't think I have had a week yet that I have had downtime to really be on "vacation". It has been nonstop. But I know I have to soon find time let it go and recoup for the new school year ahead.
ReplyDelete