Returning Joy to the Classroom

“When you have burnout, you’re coming to work with a very negative attitude and very negative energy,” and kids are so empathic that they feel your negative energy, and that spurs their negative energy, which causes more behavior problems and challenges.”- Donna Christy, a school psychologist. Teachers face high levels of work-related stress, impacting their mental health and potentially leading to burnout, anxiety, and depression, which can influence their well-being and the quality of education. Increasingly teachers are being asked to take on non-teaching tasks. In many instances this additional work is selectively applied to some teachers while others who find favour with administration are not so burdened. The disconnect between administrators and teachers regarding job responsibilities appears likely to persist without a revised Education Act. The classroom experience can become toxic. In fact, it is rather toxic for a growing number of teachers and students. Unfortunately, we have moved away from embracing a holistic approach to education which caters to both students’ and teachers’ well-being. We must return the joy of teaching and learning to our classrooms or else we perish. The combined weight of these issues, has led to a greater physical, psychological, and emotional imbalance for our nation’s educators. To add insult to injury many teachers who are burnt out, are not readily granted their vacation leave. Oftentimes, the teacher’s state of wellness is ignored even with supporting evidence from a medical practitioner. The current system is uncaring and prejudicial. Educators often speak about instructional and transformational leadership, however equally important to the balancing of the education system is emotional leadership. Emotional leadership or leadership that tends to the social and emotional well-being of teachers in schools is lacking. Emotional leadership is a leadership style that places emphasis on understanding and managing emotions in the workplace. This style of leadership recognizes the impact that emotions have on individual and team performance, and it seeks to leverage these emotions in a positive way to achieve organizational goals. Emotions not only influence interpersonal relationships, teaching behaviours, teaching beliefs and academic performance, but can also help with students' cognitive and emotional development. Fortunately, the importance of emotions has been recognized by leaders and parents, so they not only pay attention to academic achievement, but propose a bigger educational aim-- to develop the emotion of both teachers and students (Brackett et al. 2007). This type of leadership is explicitly aimed at balancing job demands and resources so that teachers can experience a state of well-being at work. Emotional leadership might help address the current state of imbalance for teachers. What Is Emotional Intelligence?. Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand and manage your emotions, as well as recognize and influence the emotions of those around you. The term was first coined in 1990 by researchers John Mayer and Peter Salovey but was later popularized by psychologist Daniel Goleman. The Harvard Business School Online states that a lack of emotional intelligence skills often results in workplace conflicts and misunderstandings. This dynamic often stems from an inability to recognize or comprehend emotions. One of the most common indicators of low emotional intelligence is difficulty managing and expressing emotions. The affected individual might struggle with acknowledging his/her colleagues' concerns appropriately, or wrestle with active listening. Active listening is a communication skill that goes beyond simply hearing the words someone is saying; it involves fully concentrating, understanding, responding thoughtfully, and remembering what was said. It's about actively processing and seeking to understand the meaning and intent behind the message. Sabrina Romanoff, PsyD explains, "Active listening requires de-centering from one’s fixed position to be fully present with another. It helps people feel more understood and strengthens relationships as it signals a willingness to sit with the other’s perspective and empathy for their situation instead of singular focus on oneself." Undoubtedly, the ever increasing range of responsibilities has left many teachers burned out. The education system continues to sacrifice the well being of the teacher. Regrettably, by taking this approach we are also playing Russian roulette with the well-being of the teachers. It is critical to acknowledge the importance of supporting the mental health of not just students, but educators in order to maximize the best outcomes for all stakeholders. In the words of Amit Ray, emotional intelligence is the foundation of leadership. It balances flexibility with toughness, vision with passion, compassion with justice. Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com @WayneCamo ©