The Professional “Funk” – Why do I Stay in This Profession?
What is the professional funk? How is it possible to help teachers through this?
A number of things have brought this topic up. I have had a wicked two weeks of stress. I’ve read a blog by another teacher who also had a bad week, and I was remembering what happened to me this time last year.
The “professional funk” is when teachers, usually teachers in their first five to seven years of teaching, hit the skids full tilt as the impact of this “noble” profession sweeps them off their feet. They are overwhelmed, overworked, struggling with various teaching issues – from instructional practices, classroom management to dealing with the damn paperwork. They are ready to quit. Many do. I almost did, last November after eleven years in the trenches.
What to do to help those new teachers? A mentorship program is definitely a benefit. Ideas on instructional methods, classroom management are all great, but what about the coping strategies? How about not letting our newest members fall into that expected “martyrdom” trap where giving up everything “for the kids” is not just encouraged, but expected. That entire Freedom Writer’s syndrome is the height of egoism. The selfless you. Are we there, as experienced teachers, taking care that this idea is not brewing in our newest members? Do we offer support to help new teachers realize how to be satisfied in this job without paying a ridiculous cost – burnout, depression, defeat? Schools do not just need to take care of their students, they need to take care of their staff.
November 11th, 2008 at 8:39 am
Hi Cindy,
I found your blog via the KnowWeeks blogging course.
I like your description of “professional funk”. I’ve never understood why there are some professions where martyrdom is an expectation. Don’t we want the people teaching our children to have the time to give to their own families and own pursuits? Won’t this mean that they are happier, calmer people to be interacting with our kids on a day-to-day basis? I’ve posted on Combating Teacher Burnout, and for me adequate prep time is definitely an issue.
Looking forward to reading more of your posts!
November 11th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Read your post and found it insightful. (I also followed Dan’s vodcasting this summer) The thing that floored me the most when I came over from the private system to the public was the loss of prep time. I was used to 180 minutes/wk but with 65 minutes of supervision. The public system has 90 prep minutes/wk with about half the supervision (at the elementary level). I actually questioned some staff about this loss of prep between the two systems. It boils down to money.
As for time with family and own pursuits, well I get the idea that is what the summer is for! It is a difficult juggling act that you either figure out or you end up quitting due to burnout, depression or defeat.