I try and stay socially connected to the education world through my Twitter account and what I’ve been seeing is pretty disheartening. Educators are feeling exhausted, disrespected, frustrated and little angry too! I know that most social media platforms allow a person to “sound off” without much care on the impact of their words…but what I am reading is from people I know, solid educators who I would have my grandchildren in their classrooms in a heartbeat. Some without a real understanding of what it is like be in education may want to assume that this is the perspective from the “union!” No! These are highly competent and compassionate professionals who care about what they do and the students they serve. So where does that leave us and what do we do?
While I was a superintendent, I always addressed our first-year teachers and reminded them to keep their priorities in the right order. It was a consistent message to all staff. Everybody has different priorities at different times but in communicating my list for them, the job was always last. It did not mean that I had low expectations for their work, in fact I expected a remarkably high standard. I believed however, in Covey’s famous principle, “Put first things first!”
“You can’t give what you don’t have.” Educators have lives beyond the school and classrooms and we want to think that those lives are not messy. But they are! We have educators just like the rest of society that have health problems and relationship problems and family problems and…the list goes on and on. Yet, while we may acknowledge that this is true, we expect these highly trained professionals to just leave it at home and do their job with excellence. Most do but in this demanding pandemic world, some are not, and others are on the very edge.
So, I return to the title of this blog, “Being selfish” which is a foreign concept to these compassionate educators. Putting first things first begins with the individual. It is about finding some solid rock in your life before you reach out to others. It is not about being selfish for more things but being selfish to be able to give more. There is a significant difference between the two. Taking care of yourself so that you can take care of others is not a new or novel idea. But it starts with looking honestly at your own life and figuring out what you truly need to be better and that takes you to be a little selfish.
Business folks caring only about the bottom line believe my way of thinking is ludicrous and sense that employees will just take advantage. No matter what profession or line of work you are in, there will be those who take advantage of your request for them to be selfish. However, most employees will see the care you have for them and will always give you more. If you have more people taking advantage, then maybe you should not be their leader.
I would never suggest that organizations have an opt out clause to promote positive mental health in their employees, but individuals must make some changes in their own lives too. Do not be afraid of being selfish to enhance your own mental health and your overall wellbeing. Remember, what helps you, benefits the students in your school!
