Celebrating South Africa’s everyday heroes

Teaching and Learning International’s (Talis) research survey released by the Basic Education Department earlier this year revealed some of the challenges that South African teachers are facing.  These challenges ranged from administrative tasks, keeping order in classrooms to classroom size.  

The survey revealed that, in SA, only 66 per cent of a teacher’s time in the classroom is spent on teaching, compared to 78 per cent in other countries. Teachers who participated in the survey rated the reduction of classroom size as their top priority, with the second being an increase in salaries.

Helene Vermaak, director at The Human Edge said, that on the positive side, the report revealed that 88 per cent of teachers found that attending and participating in courses and seminars had a positive impact on their teaching practice. Vermaak said that it is vital that teachers are given the skills to be able to deal with the challenges that they are facing daily.

She cited that a crucial skill for teachers is being able to speak up when facing a crucial conversation, whether it be with a principal, department head, colleague or parent.  “We have found that there are five common, crucial conversations that most teachers face. By being able to engage more consistently and effectively they will be able to continue to positively impact the South African youth and society as a whole.”

The five common conversations that teachers are facing are:

1. Unsupportive school leaders. While many principals are incredibly supportive, there are those who just aren’t. In these cases, high levels of stress are created, ultimately hindering the teacher’s performance, making her job more difficult and threatening the morale of the entire faculty. Unfortunately, most teachers avoid confronting the situation and become even more unsatisfied.
2. Teachers who are failing in their classrooms. Most teachers who see their colleagues failing in the classroom, never address it and instead there is an impact of the failure, which includes poor student learning, more work for colleagues and an increase in stress for everyone who is affected.
3. Teachers who let their peers down. Teachers not only work with students, but they need to work with one another, across departments and throughout the school, collaborating on curriculum issues, team teaching, and other critical issues.
4. Parents who fail to support learning. Parents have a significant role to play in their children’s school career. From facilitating learning, encouraging good behaviour and supporting teachers.  Yet a large majority of teachers struggle with parents who fail to support their children’s education, impacting learning and creating problems.
5. Students who have behavioural problems. Not all learners are the same. Some are easily distracted, exhibit behavioural problems and impede their own learning and ultimately create issues for other students in the classroom while making the teacher’s job much more difficult.

Vermaak said that being able to navigate these crucial conversations can be very difficult, but with the right skills it is possible.  She provided the following five approaches to assist and increase the chance of a good outcome.

1. Don’t wait until you are angry – the time to talk is when you see the problem emerging and are not yet emotionally invested.
2. Ask the humanising question – open your mind before confronting the person and question why a reasonable, rational and decent person would be acting the way they are.
3. Start with safety – find common ground, demonstrate respect and establish a psychologically safe environment, as this is key for succeeding at any crucial conversation.
4. Eliminate excuses – do not make excuses for not speaking up. Determine whether it is in your interest to voice your concerns.
5. Dialogue not monologue – when the goal is to engage in dialogue then the crucial conversation will lead to mutual learning rather than duelling defences.

The Talis research survey found that at least 97 per cent of SA teachers cited the opportunity to influence children’s development or contribute to society, as a major workplace motivation.

Vermaak said that there is no doubt the stress that teachers are facing is going to increase in the future, as with most careers. “To enable our teachers to remain committed and believing in the reasons that they became teachers in the first place we need to give them the skills to regularly engage in healthy crucial conversations that strengthen relationships, improve teamwork and influence positive change.”

Related article:

https://northeasterntribune.co.za/207258/wishing-teachers-happy-worldteachersday-appreciate/