What Does It Mean to Live an Examined Life in Education
The tagline on Joy in Teaching’s website states “The Examined Life in Education”.
But what does it mean to live an examined life? And, why is it important within the field of education?
The great philosopher Socrates is quoted in saying “The Unexamined Life is Not Worth Living”. A bold statement supposedly spoken at his trial wherein he chose death over exile. If we take it down a notch we can interpret Socrates’ final and fatal statement as a powerful lesson in the importance of thoughtful awareness.
Joy in Teaching believes that awareness and reflection are key pieces in the ability of educators to build resiliency. However, just saying this or knowing it doesn’t actually help. Teachers often know they need to make a change to fully experience the joy in teaching, however, there are roadblocks. And, these roadblocks often stand between the actions that educators can take and the professional development they need.
Teachers need time, space, and motivation in order to truly reclaim the joy in teaching.
Teachers need time, space, and motivation in order to truly reclaim the joy in teaching Click To Tweet
TIME
A recurring theme within research on teacher burnout and attrition is time. Teachers work within intense schedules and often feel a lack of ownership of their own time. They aren’t able to eat or use the bathroom when they want to or need to. I have personally taught in schools where there was a “do not leave the building” policy during the school day. There never is enough time to get everything done, and increasingly in many schools, teachers have been called upon to cover each other when substitutes are unavailable. Time is our most valuable asset and ask any teacher what they never have and I bet the answer is time (or money – but, that’s a post for another time).
Educators need time to reflect and to course correct if need be. If a teacher has a difficult class or a tough student, if they are struggling with the curriculum or standards, or they had a lesson land flat or an evaluation that didn’t go well – they need time. Time to consider how it could go differently and what their next step will be. On the other side of the same coin, if a teacher had a lesson go great or they have a highly-engaged class – they need time. Time to consider what factors are causing the success and how they can apply it in the future. If teachers are constantly stretched thin and never given the time to be reflective and gain awareness then they are unable to live an examined life.
SPACE
Space is another consideration in the equation of developing an examined life in education. Teachers need a space to be reflective. Teachers share rooms more and more often. Personally, I have done so in a number of ways – I have taught in multiple rooms in which another teacher was teaching in the other half while I was teaching or planning. I have also taught alternatively with a teacher – in which I planned during their teaching time and vis-a-versa. Both situations, and there are many more less-than-ideal classroom arrangements out there, do not provide teachers the necessary space to develop reflectivity. These spatial concerns impact student learning, of course, but also impact teacher’s abilities to grow as professionals. If we want teachers to develop their skills as reflective and adaptable professionals we need to provide them the space to do so.
MOTIVATION
When teachers are left, time stretched thin, wheels spinning – they lose the joy in teaching. They lack resiliency. They need support. And, they need motivation. Motivation is necessary for everyone and is closely tied to will. If we don’t have the motivation to exercise it’s hard to develop the will to take action. If we don’t have the motivation to eat healthfully then it’s even harder to curb the cravings. Likewise, if we don’t have the motivation to do well at our jobs it’s difficult to develop the will to carry it out to the best of our abilities. Teachers need motivation to gain clarity, see their purpose, and to push forward with the insight of knowing their next step. They need to know that they are backed as professionals and will be afforded the time, space, and respect to develop their skills. And, they need meaningful professional development that demonstrates the importance of living an examined life in education and which gives them the permission to take a minute and reflect on their day.
Space, Time, and motivation – that is what is needed to live an examined life in education. And, why is this important?
Because, teachers have the responsibility of the world on their shoulders and they need to be allotted the essential tools to be their very best. And, because, developing awareness and reflectivity is a pathway for teachers to grow as professionals and build the resilience necessary to reclaim their joy in teaching.
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