Teachers Need Our Support More Than Ever

As we’ve watched the outbreak of COVID-19 reach our shores and our communities adapting to ever-evolving changes through impacts of social distancing and the closure of schools, studio’s and universities, the uncertainty and challenges facing many is immense as our everyday interactions change both physically and mentally.

Currently closure and social distancing is front of mind. We’re not socialising and stopping to chat, but waving from a distance or connecting as best as possible through virtual platforms and technologies. Primary focus is keeping ourselves safe.

Spare a thought for the teachers where studios have closed, through to the 288,000-plus teachers who work face-to-face with the nation’s 4 million school students. Like so many essential service workers teachers are on the front line, impacted by the pandemic, supporting student and parent concerns all mixed with anxiety due to circumstances we as a community have never before experienced.

Placed on top of all the uncertainty and challenges facing teachers everyday is the ‘opinion factor’ about how educators should be responding, the official statement, plus the practicalities of the day-to-day. A situation where teachers are also parents and members of our communities who, like the rest of us, are unable to solve the pandemic, but currently sitting on the front line working through unprecedented challenges to deliver educational tools and resources online as well as working through the common emotions – concern for family and friends. Both professionally and emotionally the strain our teachers are operating under is extraordinary.

So what can we do?

First and Foremost – Support

Our teachers already work long hours and over the past few weeks their workload has doubled. The responsibility of preparing lessons for a normal school week and terms in itself is detailed scheduling and lesson planning, let alone what is being requested of the teaching community at this present time – creating resources and plans for parents who have made the decision to home school. I’m finding in my own email inbox daily communications from my school providing invaluable resources from ‘Learning Activities At Home’; ‘Accessing Assessment’; and this morning ‘Supporting Students Through Anxiety’. I can only hope the same care and support is being offering to our teaching community.

On top of the workload is kids, cleanliness and supplies. Shifting to social distancing between students, soap dispensers and hand sanitizer and rescheduling workshops, activities and assessment is an immense undertaking. Think about a school use of equipment and infrastructure as classroom change overs occur eight times a day where students fill the corridors to travel to the next class. Like never before our school communities need our support, understanding and patience.

Mental Health & Well being – For All

Daily change is announced and uncertainty is driven home harder and harder for everyone. Kids are confused, out of sync with regular routines and being inundated with imagery, impending crisis, limitations across community interaction and messages of stay safe…stay strong! Everyone is feeling vulnerable as the pressure builds and continues to grow around each and everyone of us. There is no escape! For the sake of everyone, approach, commonsense and communication is now more important than ever before. As a parent if there isn’t that immediate response from your school, pause and take a breath. Rest assured the school is doing everything it can, as quickly and as efficiently as possible.

More than ever before be ‘kind to teachers’ and understand everyone across the global and in our communities at the moment is fragile. Like everyone teachers are also distressed and a virtual hug to a teacher is of the upmost importance.

The Road Ahead – Virtual Connection

Going by the daily news cycle, the road ahead will be long and challenging, so working from home and living in the virtual world to learn and keep motivated will become our connection and communication portal for many in our communities.

On a positive note facilitation of knowledge and practice has kicked off this week using online and virtual classes and while not able to replicate the same feeling of attending class to see people connect this week has been a fantastic alternative adding value for each individual involved and delivering a sense of community. Staying connected together in your learning, interests and communities through virtual applications supports all of us keep united. Like never before progressing towards any goals as an individual or group provides well being and that we’re not alone.