Are Teachers the New Therapists?

2024-04-07

Are Teachers the New Therapists? Even before the pandemic, teachers were asked to check on students’ mental health, which was a realistic request. However, since then, schools, districts, and communities have demanded that more be done in the classroom under the guidance of the classroom teachers to ensure the students are “doing well mentally.” Teachers' roles have been demanding for years, if not decades. With faculty inclusion, there are fewer supports for them and more for the students. Administr...

Even before the pandemic, teachers were asked to check on students’ mental health, which was a realistic request. However, since then, schools, districts, and communities have demanded that more be done in the classroom under the guidance of the classroom teachers to ensure the students are “doing well mentally.”

Teachers' roles have been demanding for years, if not decades. With faculty inclusion, there are fewer supports for them and more for the students. Administrators fail to support teachers as they continue to pile more responsibilities upon them while taking away what was thought to be reasonable respite (planning time, personal time, etc.).

So, what gives? This week we explore this unfathomable conundrum.

Resources:

Edutopia-“What’s the role of the teacher in supporting student mental health”

https://www.edutopia.org/article/the-doctor-is-in-your-classroom/

KFF-“The Landscape of School Based Mental Health Services”

https://www.kff.org/mental-health/issue-brief/the-landscape-of-school-based-mental-health-

services/

Very Well Mind

https://www.verywellmind.com/mental-health-in-the-classroom-survey-7569880

Edsource 1/4/22 “Teachers are not Therapists”

https://edsource.org/2022/teachers-are-not-therapists/665250

Edsource 11/14/21 “I’m a Teacher and I Can’t Live like This”

https://edsource.org/2022/teachers-are-not-therapists/665250

Edsurge Popdcast 4/23/23 “Why All Teachers Need Training in Mental Health and Social Work”

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2023-04-25-why-all-teachers-need-training-in-mental-health-

and-social-work

US Derpartment of Education , “U.S. Department of Education Announces More Than $188

Million from the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to Support Mental Health and Student

Wellness”

https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/us-department-education-announces-more-188-

million-bipartisan-safer-communities-act-support-mental-health-and-student-wellness

#EducationalDilemna #Teaching #TeacherasTherapist #TeachingandMentalHealth #EducationalPodcast #AlternativeEducationPodcast #AltEdPodcast #EducationalIssues #IssuesinEducation #IssuesinAlternativeEducation #TeacherTraining #MentalHealthCrisisinSchools #MentalHealthCrisisinTeaching

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