TEXT 12            CAN TEACHERS REDUCE THEIR STRESS?

Pre-reading questions

   

   1.      What generally causes the stress?

   2.      Is the beginning of an academic year a stressful time? Why? Why not?

   3.      Do you agree that teaching is a “noble and rewarding profession”?

   4.      Name five jobs that are highly stressful. Discuss the choice with your classmates.

   

   ^1.                Stress can be defined as an abnormal emotional or physical reaction to
   demanding stressful events which interfere with our accustomed way of life. Whether the
   situation will be stressful usually depends on the person’s subjective appraisal of the event
   and, in a way, on his/her previous experience with a similar case. Stress seems to be
   everywhere as the interfering environmental stressors make the physical and emotional demands
   on us more and more unbearable.

   ^2.                 Teaching belongs among stressful professions because it brings constant
   changes and new facts every day to both pupils and teachers, and it actually never ends.
   Educators can hardly ever say to themselves: “Oh, well done, I am finished. I am through. I
   have completed my job.”  For their job actually never ends.

   ^3.                 And so their stress, which is frequently experienced as a constant worry –
   “Am I on time (in line with) with the syllabus?” “Have I explained the new topic in an
   easy-to-follow way?” “Oh, no, it’s the bell again; time to go back to the classroom?” “I
   always seem to fall behind, never coping with my stuff,” etc. It is good to know that teachers
   need to set realistic time-scales and say ‘No’ when they have to. However, are these stressful
   situations really so tragic?

   ^4.                The complaints about stress in a teaching job very often seem to be a
   never-ending story. In some cases teachers can, in a way, even blame it on themselves. They
   compete with their colleagues to be the best of the best, submitting their tasks to school
   principals quite well ahead of the deadline; they try to be perfectionists, insisting on every
   smallest detail, they voluntarily enlarge their teaching load in order to make more money,
   take extra classes, part-time jobs, etc.

   ^5.                 On the other hand, it is fair to say that female teachers are in a worse
   situation, having to look after their families, help their children with homework, do
   shopping, cooking, washing, ironing, you name it, with much less time to relax after work when
   compared with male teachers.

   ^6.                But unless teachers set realistic boundaries for their tasks, they will
   constantly live with stress. Take, for example, one of the school inspectors’ requirements -
   to be strictly in line and on time with the syllabus.

   ^7.                 The national syllabus for primary schools is essential, yet in some cases,
   there may even appear a necessity for a justified delay in the course programme. The delay
   can, undoubtedly, be rectified in a couple of days by enhanced efforts, and may even bring
   some benefit to the pupils. Furthermore, an important fact is to understand that teachers
   simply cannot pass all the knowledge onto their disciples, and that not all of their students
   are able to grasp the new material entirely.

   ^8.                 And what is more, prolonged exposure to stress can lead to depression,
   migraine headaches, heart disease, stomach disorders and ulcers, and other stress-induced
   long-term illnesses. To put it shortly, the school bell could very easily turn into the
   passing-bell. Yes, there is an implied piece of wisdom in stopping trying to finish a job that
   is already defined as never ending.  

   ^9.                There is no doubt that many situations in schools can lead to stressful
   events. People differ, and so do teachers. What may cause stress in one person can easily be
   overcome by another with a smile. One may consider hair-pulling as violence against girls, or
   even bullying, the other might see it as a demonstration (or an example) of affection or
   favour towards the opposite sex.

   ^10.               Of course, it depends on circumstances. Some people may work better under
   pressure; they are high in commitment, control, more alert, energetic and they always need
   fresh challenges. On the other hand, it is widely known that too little stress and too few
   challenges in life can also lead to certain problems.

   ^11.              Can the negative effects of stress be reduced? The most predictable answer
   would probably be: Yes, they should!  Compared with men, women developed a unique way out of
   these situations. They talk the stressful situation out, voice it by sharing their problems
   with somebody, or even better, with a close friend of theirs. And in most cases it helps.

   ^12.               Men tend to hide the problem inside, trying to find the solution by
   themselves and sinking under the burden of worsening stressful events. Another way could be
   defined as an attempt to determine the stressor. Have you got a problem? Just name it.

   ^13.              How to tackle stress? To cope with stress effectively, we need to evaluate
   the situation first. There are some well-known recommendations for immediate relief, such as
   deep breathing, taking a long soak in a bath, or talking about the problem with someone you
   can trust.

   ^14.               Some long-term remedies might include taking up some sporting activities,
   hobbies, or just avoiding stressful circumstances if possible. Also, it has been proved that
   people cope with stressful situations better when they feel that they can exercise some degree
   of control rather than being passive and helpless victims. The loud music coming from your
   flatmate’s stereo is probably not so stressful and irritating as the same kind of music coming
   from your neighbour’s next door.

   ^15.               Just knowing that you can control the noise makes it less vexatious. Also,
   unpleasant events tend to be less stressful if they are predictable – if you at least know
   when they will occur so that you can get ready for them. E.g., when a school inspector is to
   come to your school, it is less traumatic if his or her arrival is announced to the staff
   beforehand than if it is a kind of sudden “hold-up”.

   ^16.              Until now it was generally believed that to keep fit and healthy people
   should attempt to avoid stress in their lives. However, this approach can be quite limiting
   and brings people only a restricted amount of beneficial changes and challenge. A reasonable
   portion of stress could bring in some more stimulation and result in potentially positive
   progress.

   ^17.               Everyone needs to come to terms with stress in his or her own way,
   sometimes trying to avoid it, sometimes coping with it, and sometimes seeing it as a
   challenge. At issue is which techniques should be used to reduce the harmful and unhealthy
   side effects of stress.

   Text adapted from The English Texts with Tests II, Vacek, J. Nicholls, M. MU Brno. 2004