Developing meaningful solutions for the problem
of teacher stress and burnout is more complex than
it may appear . It involves change in human attitudes
and behavior, a type of change very difficult to
bring about, even when an individual's job satisfaction
and physical health are at stake. It is one
thinc to list stressors and possible solutions; it is
another thing to act on what we already know to
be in our best interest .
A ''holistic approach" to the problem of teacher
stress and burnout recognizes the complexity of
this problem . Mind and body are viewed as inter
connected . Thoughts, feelings, and physiological
responses are related. 'Each of us is seen as ultimately
responsible for our health and happiness
because we make numerous decisions each day
that influence to a large extent what we will become,
both emotionally and physically .
The holistic approach assumes that problems
will be resolved most effectively when they are
approached on several fronts simultaneously . Con
sequently, teachers need a diverse set of skills and
understandings related to stress and burnout management.
These skills and understandings can be
defined and taught . Osipow (1979), in discussing a
general orientation to the improvement of occupational
mental health, suggests :
We should use a "deliberate psychological education"
approach (Mosher & Sprinthall, 1971)
to explicitly teach people some of the principles
Dennis Sparks was most recently director of the Northwest
Staff Development Center in Wayne County, Michigan
. He is currently serving as a consultant for numerous
school districts throughout the United States .
of affective work attitudes that might reduce
job stress that is induced internally . In other
words, giving people a greater awareness of
the sources of their control over their work
environment would be potentially helpful (p . 69).
Many of the processes of "deliberate psychological
education" (self-awareness, understanding the
cognitive sources of feelings, etc.) will be discussed
below.
Blocks to Change
Individual change can be difficult . Changing an
institution, such as a school, is likely to be even
more difficult . Even though this article will focus
more on individual change than school change, it
is important to keep in mind that ongoing teacher
renewal will be at the heart of any lasting institutional
growth and innovation .
Why is it that in spite of our best intentions to
alter ourselves in some way, we often persist in
undesired habits? Inertia is certainly one reason.
Once a person is "at rest," it requires extra effort
to be set "in motion ." Another factor seems to be
the sense of powerlessness that develops when
individuals establish overly ambitious goals for
themselves . For example, a teacher may decide
that in the next three months she wants to leam
some new teaching strategies to motivate her students,
lose 50 pounds, and improve the way she
relates to her principal. While these may be worthy
goals, the frustration and sense of failure that may
result when they are not achieved is likely to produce
a mind-set that says, "Nothing I can do will
make any difference anyway, so why try.
Developing meaningful solutions for the problem
of teacher stress and burnout is more complex than
it may appear . It involves change in human attitudes
and behavior, a type of change very difficult to
bring about, even when an individual's job satisfaction
and physical health are at stake. It is one
thinc to list stressors and possible solutions; it is
another thing to act on what we already know to
be in our best interest .
A ''holistic approach" to the problem of teacher
stress and burnout recognizes the complexity of
this problem . Mind and body are viewed as inter
connected . Thoughts, feelings, and physiological
responses are related. 'Each of us is seen as ultimately
responsible for our health and happiness
because we make numerous decisions each day
that influence to a large extent what we will become,
both emotionally and physically .
The holistic approach assumes that problems
will be resolved most effectively when they are
approached on several fronts simultaneously . Con
sequently, teachers need a diverse set of skills and
understandings related to stress and burnout management.
These skills and understandings can be
defined and taught . Osipow (1979), in discussing a
general orientation to the improvement of occupational
mental health, suggests :
We should use a "deliberate psychological education"
approach (Mosher & Sprinthall, 1971)
to explicitly teach people some of the principles
Dennis Sparks was most recently director of the Northwest
Staff Development Center in Wayne County, Michigan
. He is currently serving as a consultant for numerous
school districts throughout the United States .
of affective work attitudes that might reduce
job stress that is induced internally . In other
words, giving people a greater awareness of
the sources of their control over their work
environment would be potentially helpful (p . 69).
Many of the processes of "deliberate psychological
education" (self-awareness, understanding the
cognitive sources of feelings, etc.) will be discussed
below.
Blocks to Change
Individual change can be difficult . Changing an
institution, such as a school, is likely to be even
more difficult . Even though this article will focus
more on individual change than school change, it
is important to keep in mind that ongoing teacher
renewal will be at the heart of any lasting institutional
growth and innovation .
Why is it that in spite of our best intentions to
alter ourselves in some way, we often persist in
undesired habits? Inertia is certainly one reason.
Once a person is "at rest," it requires extra effort
to be set "in motion ." Another factor seems to be
the sense of powerlessness that develops when
individuals establish overly ambitious goals for
themselves . For example, a teacher may decide
that in the next three months she wants to leam
some new teaching strategies to motivate her students,
lose 50 pounds, and improve the way she
relates to her principal. While these may be worthy
goals, the frustration and sense of failure that may
result when they are not achieved is likely to produce
a mind-set that says, "Nothing I can do will
make any difference anyway, so why try.
การแปล กรุณารอสักครู่..
