Dear Editor,

It’s that time again when the school year begins with newness in the air and busyness everywhere. Educators, guardians, students, and other stakeholders are at it again to engage in stoking the flames of excellence.

However, how much work is being done to adequately prepare educators to return to their desks fully recharged? Additionally, with the new educators joining the profession, what lasting impressions will be left on them after a few weeks of interaction with the seasoned educators and the impending tasks at hand?

The mental health of our educators must not be taken lightly. However, so many of our educators are conditioned to being overworked that they sometimes find it difficult to unplug. In fact, numerous educators spent their summer vacation teaching, working overseas, or engaging in work-related tasks for the new school term. Therefore, I agree with author Maxime Lagacé who postulates, “Keep your vitality. A life without health is like a river without water.” Consequently, the powers that be also need to consider that educators are humans and not robots.

Why can’t educators look forward to a back-to-school fair just as some children eagerly anticipate goodies and services from such fairs which cater to their different needs? Needless to say, it is rather disheartening to know that many educators are being greeted with a barrage of meetings prior to the official opening of the new school year. Our education system needs to be mindful of the messages it is sending to our educators, some of whom go beyond the call of duty without recognition. A better approach ought to be taken to re-engage our educators to start the new school year.

Teachers should consider engaging in purposeful self-care to recharge as part of their preparations for the new school year.

1) Seek free counselling from the Jamaica Teachers’ Association or your health-care practitioner.

2) De-stress by reading or listening to music.

3) Take advantage of artificial intelligence capabilities. For example, Humata, ChatGPT, Pickaxe, Quillbot, or Open Read.

4) Advocate for mental health initiatives at work. For example, sip & paint, exercise sessions, and gardening.

5) Engage in mind management techniques. For example, box breathing (breathe in for four counts, hold for four counts, breathe out for four counts, hold for four counts, and repeat three to four times); grounding (acknowledge five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste); visualisation; and suit of armour (used to block toxic words from negative people).

6) Make time for relaxation.

Educators, contrary to what popular belief says about your profession, that it doesn’t pay and it is stressful, it is not too late to value your importance by engaging in self-care as often as possible. Don’t be married to your work.

I suggest that the Ministry of Education find more practical ways to usher our educators back to the classroom. They need more positive reinforcement other than that which is given on Teachers’ Day.

School administrators, public and private sector entities, alumni, and other affiliates, help to preserve our teachers’ well-being because they are part of the puzzle that must come together with other factors to put Jamaica together again.

Kerry-Ann Kerr-Williams

kerryann.kerrwilliams@gmail.com