BY HERMAN M. LAGON
STUDENT success and teacher well-being are clearly connected: when teachers are underfunded and undersupported, it directly affects the quality of education students get. Not only is it fair, but supporting teachers is vital for our overall educational system going forward.
Despite the growing demands they face, many teachers quietly endure their struggles, fearing that discussing their health, particularly mental well-being, might be seen as a sign of weakness or incompetence. This quiet culture has to evolve. Schools should empower and enable teachers to care for their psychological wellness without concern about criticism or stigma. Everyone has to understand that self-care is not selfish — it is vital — drawing on ideas of self-awareness and caring for the whole person. Teachers can only keep giving their students the education they are due by looking after their own psycho-emotional and physical health.
Encouraging open and safe communication about mental health is one of the most important things schools can do. Professionals such as Darcy Gruttadaro of the American Psychiatric Association Foundation stress the need to establish settings where teachers may talk about their mental health issues free from concern about consequences or criticism. Schools too often rely on “toxic positivity” or superficial wellness programs to address teacher stress. Teachers truly need genuine empathy, active listening, and a well-structured support system that acknowledges and effectively addresses the real challenges they face.
Still, emotional support by itself is insufficient. Teacher stress has to be lowered by structural and pragmatic adjustments. Schools must rethink workloads and lower class numbers and give teachers enough time to prepare and plan. Although urging educators to “take care of themselves” is well-intentioned, such advice is useless if the structural causes of stress — overwhelming paperwork, limited resources, and unrealistic expectations — remain unaddressed. Teachers and students, by extension, will continue to suffer from burnout without these vital changes.
Teacher well-being is a pressing concern right now that needs focus. The health and well-being of our teachers, the cornerstone of our educational system, will shape the future trajectory of the nation’s education. Our dear teachers deserve more than just thanks. They need real, physical support—that which addresses their overall health, lessens their workload, and creates a safe, sustainable workplace where they may flourish. After all, every student’s future depends on every teacher’s wellness.
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Doc H fondly describes himself as a “student of and for life” who, like many others, aspires to a life-giving and why-driven world grounded in social justice and the pursuit of happiness. His views do not necessarily reflect those of the institutions he is employed or connected with./PN
