One of the most disheartening tropes nowadays is the overworked and underpaid teacher. For a profession in which 90 percent of its workforce reports contributing to society and influencing children’s development as one of the most important reasons for joining, it’s no secret that you’d be hard-pressed to find a teacher who says they got into it for the money.
Unfortunately however, just as incremental change and impact seem to go unnoticed, so too does the role that teachers play on a wide scale, coupled with the fact that teachers’ needs often exist on the periphery of our priorities as a society. After all, the children are our future, and thus the needs of students should be front and center. Right?
Julia Feste
Interestingly enough, teachers themselves would tend to agree with this. According to Julia Feste, a NonViolent Communication coach and trainer at Beijing Mindfulness Centre (BMC) who specializes in teaching, drawing on her own years of experience in the field, “Sometimes [teachers]are so focused on our students that we tend to forget our own needs,” adding, “Teachers are often exposed to difficult health issues as a consequence of constant stress and lack of proper self-care.”
More anecdotally, Feste points out that, “Contrary to some jobs, as a teacher, you cannot hide behind your computer on days you feel low and fatigued.”
That’s why, beginning Saturday, January 18, and running every subsequent Saturday, Feste will host Teachers Care, a support group for the education community, at BMC. The class will be held from 10-11.30am, and costs RMB 150 to attend. Each meeting will have a maximum of ten people to ensure that there’s room for everyone’s voice, and attendees are asked to abide by a strict confidentiality pact, so that everyone feels safe when sharing.
This comes on the heels of a similar event held last November, that was hugely successful. With roughly 30 people participating, representing the entire spectrum of educational settings, from kindergarten to high school teachers, principals, teacher trainers, and education association organizers, it became clear that this was a necessary event to help teachers, and by proxy, their students, continue to thrive.
As Feste explains, “In a big city like Beijing, it can be very easy to feel isolated. A support group for teachers is aimed to help teachers connect with people who have similar struggles, sharing best self-care practices, supporting each other towards emotional growth, empowerment, and a sense of well-being overall.”
For more information and to sign up for Teachers Care, click here, or scan the QR code above.
BCM is located at No. 44, Qian Yong Kang Hutong, Dongcheng
Photos: Pixabay, Julia Feste, BMC
