Separated By a Common Building

 It is after years of agonising wait that WCC has finally moved to a spanking new building. State of the Art premises with a huge surface cover. Management, teachers, parents and students had been waiting to leave the old knackered building and feel safe from rain water flooding their classrooms or cats falling through the fake ceilings. 

Now the move has been made and, with excitement, all 'stakeholders' can enjoy the freshly painted walls, vast recess areas and clean classrooms. And yet, the one thing that is supposed to bring two sites and their staff together is the reason for some of the stress people are feeling and the isolation that seems to tear apart so many warm gatherings. 

Before you accuse me of being a killjoy and negative, I do admit it is a great achievement. To build a school in such a short time (not counting the long years we have been waiting to break ground) and to get it ready (-ish!) for the new academic year is to be praised. However, it is difficult to suppress a curse at the way the new school has imposed so many restrictions on its staff.

So many access points (12 in total, I believe) and staff are only allowed to use two. One of which is to shut down at drop-off and pick-up times. Trivial matter.

The school has a staff/visitors car park that is at one end of the school and the main buildings are at another end. Primary are lucky as they are at a closer distance. In the heat, it is a real struggle to walk from that end to, say, the Bunker. Let alone if you are carrying stuff. 

Somehow, the leadership group members seem to be immune from this. Another miracle to be added to their Invisibility Cloak one that they seem to have. The managers have managed (see what I did here?) to secure themselves a shaded and a few steps away parking space from the Bunker. Praise thee Lord! You suffer for the rest of us? Clearly, this is a modern day miracle worthy of your attention. Watch and learn.

Petty, I hear you say.

The fact that staff do not 'bump into' one another now and are confined to their classrooms, departments and buildings adds more stress and the feeling of isolation. There is no more time to sit and rest, chat to your colleagues, make yourself a cup of tea, visit other departments, discuss difficult students (very few of them, luckily), do some printing etc. Covid-19 is partly to blame. It is a difficult time for everyone. We have moved from isolation at home to isolation at work. Teachers spend the most productive and active cerebral time of their day confined to the school, to their classrooms or their buildings. 

Staff were explicitly asked to stay in their forms (later retracted and changed) to monitor social distancing and to look after the students. It has become an expectation and probably now part of our daily duty. However, the strain on the staff's well being is of great threat. On a day where we raise awareness about well being (and wearing green), the last thing on anybody's mind is any small step or measure to relieve this stress. There have been calls to look at this issue from teachers. Promises were made. Nothing has happened yet. Don't hold your breath. 

You know the feeling. It happens when you see other people out for walks during their lunch break when you just spent 3 minutes “eating” while emailing a parent or student. Or when you hear how you need to try this new teaching technique, even though you’ve been doing it for years. Or when you’re up all night, sick, and have to crawl to the computer to prepare your cover lessons. You think, “How much longer can I do this?”

We all know that teaching has become increasingly more difficult to manage. We’re constantly asked to do more with less. And there is no end in sight to the increasing pressure on us.

It is high time the teachers came together and helped one another without waiting for the Bunker Dwellers. You can't expect mercy from those who have not been gifted with it. Time to act!

Teachers need to band together to support each other and make teaching a more sustainable career. There are several things we can do for each other and for ourselves.

1. Support Teachers in Times of Need. When someone on your staff is going through a difficult time, a thoughtful gift from his or her fellow teachers can mean a lot. The Greeting Card initiative (the brain child of a teacher, not a manager) has been a ray of sunshine in the darkness of our tortured and exhausted minds. Yet, management seem to have stamped these cards with their own logo, 'catchy' taglines and disingenuous intentions. 

2. Plan for a Better Work/Life Balance. A small group of teachers can improve the climate and community of the school by planning some activities that support wellness. This could be a weekly running or walking group, monthly get-togethers, weekly treats in the Staff Room, or other meaningful ideas. Wellness time could be used for weekly yoga classes as well. We need to encourage each other to be involved in activities outside of school. 

3. Provide Backup. Have a meeting with a difficult parent? Plan to take a trusted colleague with you. Is your colleague having a rough day? Do their break duty for them. These acts of kindness show solidarity, community, and humanity.

4. A Change Would Do You Good. When you feel like quitting, it might be that you’re simply ready to teach another subject or level, or in a different school. Changing your position or school might be a better fit and a way to rejuvenate your teaching. (By the way, do not forget to inform HR if you are staying or leaving. And yes, it is getting earlier every year to let them know..)

5. Band Together. Teachers can and should work together to advance the interests of a safe workplace and teaching quality. We can meet together and take action on issues of importance such as the well being of teachers, the leadership, endorsing (or not) pro-staff suggestions, and taking positions on certain policy decisions.

6. Create a Positive, Supportive Climate. The last thing teachers need is to feel more isolated. Teachers need to collaborate, problem-solve, and share successes often. This should be regular, planned, and during school time. Sometimes managers need to be reminded of this. If the climate deteriorates for any reason, handle it directly before people are hurt and disenfranchised.

In these challenging times, I find it hard to see so many colleagues talk about leaving, quitting and taking the risk of not getting a position at another school. There is no doubt that the school managers have failed their staff - repeatedly. When (if!) you see them, stop them, talk to them and let them know how you feel or let them know that a colleague of yours is going through a hard time. Tell them that the school buildings look great but the soul of any school is the people who care about the students. Without these people, you are left with only the image of that dog doing his business on that new fake grass.