Educators at Risk*
by Jane Bluestein, Ph.D.
Characteristics of educators
at risk**:
feels personally responsible for a student's successes and failures
measures personal success by student behavior and achievement, or
by approval from others
has an overwhelming need to avoid conflict and generate approval from
others (which can manifest as attentionseeking, maintaining status
quo, or even rebelliousness)
compromises student needs to avoid "rocking the boat," either
with administrators, parents, or other students
believes that the job would be easier to perform if only the students,
their parents, the administration, and/or "the system" would
change
has difficulty setting and maintaining boundaries between self and
other people
has difficulty setting and maintaining boundaries between self and
job
deals with discipline problems by shaming, blaming, complaining, manipulating,
ignoring, or dumping them on someone else
feels threatened by another teacher's progress or success
feels as though "things would completely fall apart if it weren't
for me."
swings from chaos, helplessness, and victimization to moral superiority
and self-righteousness
often rescues students by ignoring misbehavior, offering inappropriate
second chances, or failing to impose previously-stated consequences
protects a student from failure or negative consequences in an effort
to feel successful, valuable, or powerful
over-identifies with, and even adopts, another person's feelings
appears to be "fine" and "in control"
probably denies that any of the above are personally relevant
These patterns can ultimately
interfere with a teacher’s ability to:
interact with students without
violating their self-worth
interact with school staff effectively
meet students' academic and learning-style needs
behave consistently within the framework of his/her own values
feel worthy and successful
detach from the job
take care of himself/herself
Other contributing factors:
a tradition of dysfunctionality
(which now feels “normal”)
a scarcity of healthy, functional role models
the lack of a healthy, functional system to support people trying to
operate in healthy, functional ways.
the very human tendency to resist change
Some assumptions on reducing risk factors:
It is possible to adopt
healthy patterns of behavior, even in unhealthy and unsupportive environments.
The “system” is not likely to change all by itself, nor is
it likely to take care of (or support) a teacher’s needs regardless
of that teacher’s enthusiasm, instructional skills, dedication, or
good intentions.
Change happens best in supportive environments; teachers tend to function
effectively, grow professionally and personally, and avoid stress and
burnout when they can create a support network for themselves, either
in or out of school–preferrably in both environments.
Change is most effective when individuals take responsibility for their
own growth, rather than attempting to change or blame others.
Change is most effective when encouraged rather than coerced.
As individuals change, the system will change.
*Originally entitled “Codependency in the Classroom,” listing
“Characteristics of Codependent Educators.” In searching for
a more generic (and less passé) title, I’ve borrowed the idea
of “Educators At Risk” from Orville Dean, educator and consultant,
in Medina, Ohio.
**We're probably all guilty,
to some degree, of many of the above from time to time. This list is simply
a sample of the ways at risk factors can show up in the classroom. These
patterns become problematic when they become typical of a teacher’s
feelings and behaviors.
Excerpted from Creating Emotionally Safe
Schools , by Jane Bluestein, Ph.D. © 2001, Health Communications,
Inc, Deerfield Beach, FL.
What people are saying about this book.
Buy this book.
Related handouts:
Survey: Is Your School (or Classroom)
an Emotionally Safe Place?
Industrial Age Classrooms vs. Information Age Classrooms
Examples of Some New Ways of Thinking
Other handouts by Dr. Jane Bluestein
Complete alphabetical listing of all handouts on this site.
Articles and excerpts by Dr. Jane Bluestein
Complete
alphabetical listing of all articles on this site.
Complete listing of all articles and handouts in Spanish or French.
Books, Articles, Audio and Video Resources and other Resources by Dr. Jane
Bluestein
Humor and Fun: Brighten your day with fun facts, short pieces about kids, pets and work, and hilarious things kids say, do and write. Includes items you can share with kids or use as a springboard for discussions and activities.
Hire Jane: Everything you need for your next conference or professional development event
Jane’s Calendar
Click here (or on the image to the left) to see Jane’s schedule. Click here for a map with links to dates that she will be in your area.
Help support this site
The content on this site is free. You are welcome to download, copy, distribute, or use the material (with proper attribution) in any way you feel will be helpful. Your support will help us continue to maintain the site, add new content, hire translators and tech support consultants, and keep the site ad free. Any support is much appreciated.
