Scenarios

There are 35 certified teachers-on-call in School District Z, a district in northern British Columbia. There are approximately 260 teachers in the school district. Whenever a professional development opportunity comes up, a limited number of teachers are able to attend because of the lack of TOCs. If a teacher is sick, teachers registered for a workshop must give up their pro-d opportunity if a sick teaching colleague needs a TOC. In times of flu season, cold season or other illnesses, the pressure to work increases on some teachers, as on some days, a TOC may not be available:
“Without enough TOCs, I simply work whether I’m sick or not.”
“It is so hard to get ready for a TOC, and then pick up the slack, that I go to school when I am sick.”
“If I get sick I just keep going because we lack enough TOCs.”

What could be causing stress in this situation?
How is this situation unique to a northern B.C. community?





Pat lives in a small community in northern British Columbia. The school district has a total of 12 schools: 10 elementary and 2 secondary. Most elementary schools have less than 300 students and a maximum of 12 teachers. Pat works in a rural elementary school with 98 students. There are five teachers on staff. Due to the small staff, teachers at this school must take on the same responsibilities as a staff of a school twice the size. Pat enjoys athletics and volunteers to coach basketball, volleyball, cross-country and track teams, is the school union rep, intermediate school-based team rep and the intermediate literacy rep. Pat is at the school until 4:30 pm on most days, 5:30 pm on days that coaching is involved. This doesn't include the marking and prep required. After seven years of teaching at this rural school, Pat is showing signs of stress.

What could be causing stress in this situation?
How is this situation unique to a northern B.C. community?


Jennifer’s school is in a small town in central BC. The largest industry is forestry and many of the school’s families work in that area. Two years ago the school calendar was changed due to pressure from parents and the community to bring students’ time off in line with "break up". Students now attend school year round, with a four week break in March, a four week break in July and three weeks at Christmas. A new class starts every August. The school administration has determined the new calendar a success – parents are happy, students are retaining more, heating costs are down! Jennifer and other staff members aren’t so sure.....

Becky’s school is located in northern BC, 45 minutes from the nearest town. There is snow in the area for 6-7 months of the year, and the road leading to the school is difficult to drive during the long winter months. To save on bussing and heating costs the school board and school community decided that a four- day week was the best solution. After a year of working in the extended day system, Becky’s not happy with her work life. She feels the day is too long for her and her young students.

What could be causing stress in this situation?
How is this situation unique to a northern B.C. community?

Songs to Survive Stress

Survivor Theme Song
We're Not Gonna Take It - Twisted Sister
School's Out For the Summer - Alice Cooper
Don't It Make You Feel Like Dancin'? - Headpins
We're Here For a Good Time - Trooper
Summer of '69 - Bryan Adams
Peaceful, Easy Feeling - Eagles
I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor
Shout! - The Isley Brothers
Dancing Queen - ABBA
Lollipop - The Chordettes
Born to Hand Jive - Sha-Na-Na
Feels Like Home - Chantal Kreviazuk
Don't Give Up - Josh Groban
Relaxation sounds of Nature
Relaxation sounds of Panpipes
Shrek's Dance Party

Presentation Outline

6:00
- introduction to topic (quotes)
STRESS section
- handout booklets
- definition
- What stresses you? List everything. We won’t be sharing. This is your own personal reference. Sort under WORK, HOME, OTHER
- What stressors are directly related to being located in a northern community? Put a star next to them
- REPORTS/findings – data, BCTF
- Are YOU stressed? self-assessment/QUIZ

- Scenarios: jigsaw activity - three scenarios to discuss in three groups, then split into groups of three and discuss each one

7:00 Break
7:15
WELLNESS section -
- School wellness - What does it look like? Many companies are encouraging/promoting wellness. What about teachers? Some local unions have wellness committees and reps, others don’t.
- small groups: Do you think that wellness should be encouraged in the workplace? What has your school done to promote wellness? What would your wish list look like?
Quesnel has a wellness rep. Wellness medallion program. New EFAP provider starting Sept. 1, 2007 www.humansolutions.ca
- video from Teacher TV
7:45 – Break
Individual: Wellness wheel
Relaxation methods you presently use and/or wish to try:
- music - fun, relaxing, feel-good rock
- body breaks - exercise, yoga, relaxation breathing
- funnies - cartoons, "You know you are from the north. . ."
- comedy – Blue Collar Comedy tour

8:30 - Conclusion: Wellness is individual. You create your own plan. Take time to create your plan on the calendar in your booklet. Plan until December.

http://eric.ed.gov/ERICDocs/data/ericdocs2/content_storage_01/0000000b/80/0d/e0/08.pdf

this is the article written in 2001 by bctf staffer charlie naylor...

http://www.teachers.tv/video/2520 this video is quite good,

more quotes

For fast-acting relief, try slowing down. ~Lily Tomlin

The time to relax is when you don't have time for it. ~Attributed to both Jim Goodwin and Sydney J. Harris

We live longer than our forefathers; but we suffer more from a thousand artificial anxieties and cares. They fatigued only the muscles, we exhaust the finer strength of the nerves. ~Edward George Bulwer-Lytton


Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop. ~Ovid

http://eric.ed.gov/ERICDocs/data/ericdocs2/content_storage_01/0000000b/80/26/45/1f.pdf

this link is to a journal article Professional Isolation and Stress in Teachers. (canadian content)


http://www.speakwell.com/well/2000_fall/articles/total_teacher_wellness.html ideas for teacher wellness, good article


http://www.4minutefitness.com/study.htm An interesting program that was based on a study done in Victoria, teachers taking part in 4 minutes of fitness blocks to reduce stress

http://www.speakwell.com/speakers/bios/wellthofit3.pdf another canadian teacher wellness study