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More than Teachers by Emmanuel Awoyelu I’ve always said teaching is one of the best jobs in the world if not the best. Those that agree would usually say it’s because we make a difference to the lives of others. However, very few mention the fact that we’re not just teachers; we’re more than that. The actor First and foremost you’re an actor. Not everyone likes to admit it but nobody can be happy and in the mood all the time. So when we step into the classroom we’re often putting on a performance to engage our students. This is more prevalent in primary schools, where the students are reliant on your performance and ability to engage them creatively. Have you ever watched a colleague in awe, during an assembly or lesson, and think ‘You’re such a performer’? We don’t always realise that our tone of voice, our mannerisms and the things we say are all tailored to the audience of young students hanging on to our very words. When you read to your students, you are the visual representation of what they hear in a story. They attentively watch the expression on your face and the sound effects you make during a funny part in a play. For some, you are the first actor/ actress they have ever met and your classroom is their theatre. The Role model You’re also a role model, something we’re forced to be as teachers. Looking back in my life, I don’t recall having too many positive role models around me but my teachers were the closest things to them. As teachers, the way we communicate, our body language and how we treat our colleagues is always under scrutiny by the students. As we know, children are impressionable and the need for positive influences in their lives is paramount. Many of the young people I teach have difficult backgrounds and have experienced awful trauma in their early childhood. When they step into my
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classroom, I’m mindful that I may be their first or the most consistent role model they have in their life. Therefore, I’m aware that how I conduct myself as a young male professional shouldn’t be taken for granted. As teachers we have to be prepared to be what we ask of our students. The counsellor Just like adults, young people can struggle with a range of emotions in a day or for a sustained period of time. The difference is young people aren’t always equipped to deal with these emotions and this can manifest into negative behaviours in the classroom. For instance, if a child is suffering from anxiety, this can impact their ability to engage in a lesson or with their peers. This is when we become their counsellors/therapists.. There are situations you don’t anticipate at the start of the day, but often you will effectively encourage, motivate and support students through your kind and gentle words. This is why we recognise empathy and compassion as some of the traits great teachers have. Teachers working in SEN will sometimes have to deescalate situations before offering a shoulder to lean on when a child is in turmoil. When you experience these moments, it’s often a reminder that we are working with vulnerable young people who need as much support as adults, particularly when it comes to supporting their mental health. Not everyone has access to a therapist so it’s often you. Emotional dumpster There aren’t too many jobs in the world, where you can sign in at 7:30am, sign out at 6:30pm and then continue with more work at home until 10:00pm and do it all again the next day. Your entire time at school and when you’ve left school, you’re thinking about work. Sometimes it’s planning and other times it’s marking books you failed to check across the term but other times it’s just your students on your mind. You can’t always help that. When I first started
