Educator well-being and identity
A key element to educator mental wellness is ensuring that educators have the tools to understand that their work is one part of their identity. We are people first, and educators second. Popular culture is so full of ideas that perpetuate a standard of educators as martyrs. "In it for the outcome, not the income" needs to be relegated to the history books. Educators work for a paycheck - just like every other worker - and deserve to be compensated fairly for their labor.
We need to work together to ensure our union is leading the way in helping educators address toxic positivity and martyr mindsets in themselves and colleagues, and work towards a more sustainable future for the profession. We can love our students, love our jobs, AND love our lives outside of work. But doing so takes conscious effort to unlearn much of what society has taught us about education and educators.
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Comments (3)
Teaching is NOT a vocation. It is a profession. We need to constantly remind ourselves of that or the long-suffering mindset and martyr syndrome will take over! I am a team player; on my terms!
Hi Sarah:
Thanks for joining our conversation and adding your thoughts. What ideas do you have for making that happen? How can the union help teachers get past the martyr mindset and live whole, integrated lives?
A huge part of it is winning and enforcing contract language that allows for work-life balance. Protected prep time, living wages, and even the length of duty-free lunch are all critical issues so that people can balance their jobs with other parts of their lives. We need contract language to ensure these rights are protected, and school cultures that support and even encourage educators to find balance.