That’s it, then. Term has finally ended for everyone: and Christmas has arrived. But, after the long haul of the autumn term, how easy is it for teachers truly to unwind, slow down and (after that frantic period of writing Christmas cards, buying presents and laying in copious amounts of food and drink) enjoy the festive season?
One teacher gave Tes’ own Ed Dorrell their personal solution in an out-of-office email reply: “Hi. Am now hibernating. Normal service will be resumed in New Year. Joyeux Noel.”
Now, there’s someone with the answer! I love the image of hibernation that it conjures up: why does it suggest to me being curled up in a warm bothy in the Scottish Highlands, snow and wind outside, fire, whisky and rich food within? I mean, you might find the answer obvious: but I actually hate being hidden away hundreds of miles from anywhere with no access to a pub or shop except by helicopter (when the blizzard abates).
The Twittersphere - or, at least, the educational section of it - has been providing teachers with plenty of advice about how to manage the Christmas break. Educational consultants RSAcademics tweeted this week (aimed at school leaders): “Do you have a policy on checking emails during the holidays? …It’s important for your staff and pupil performance.” The linked blog suggested, at the very least, a rota of people available in turn so that everyone gets a rest.
My family and friends would complain that, until my summer retirement from headship at any rate, I’ve always been fanatical about checking emails. And, since I belatedly discovered Twitter some three years ago, I’ve remained pretty addicted to keeping up to date with that, even after throwing in the towel (or the mortar board? What do teachers throw in?).
I confess they’ve got me bang to rights: one of my oldest friends, for many years a fellow head, tweeted a somewhat acerbic comment about pots and kettles when I responded to RSAcademics: “Surely in this holiday of all - apart from a day or two at each end - policy is ‘don’t’!”
Don’t fall into the ‘just looking at emails’ trap
This raises two questions, I think. How do teachers evade the trap? And how do school leaders avoid creating it?
First, there’s a matter of self-discipline - the quality I patently lack. You don’t need to check your work email over Christmas: so, er, don’t! Over-conscientious as so many teachers are, you may have offered to mark work that over-eager exam candidates want to send you. It can take a degree of hard-heartedness to say no - for, say, 10 days or a whole two weeks. But, remember, your pupils need a break, too. We can forget, when we worry about the hard-to-motivate, that some try too hard, and fall prey to anxiety. Be strong. They might not thank you right now: but sometimes they need the particular brand of tough love that says, “Stop! Take a break.”
The same advice applies to school leaders. Yes, January will be upon us all too soon, but not yet. Bribe yourself; bully yourself; whatever it takes. Maybe, like me (honest!), you can find inside yourself a lazy person trying to get out, a character I do succeed in finding and engaging with over family Christmas, if not at other times. Anxiety spreads top-down: it’s your duty not to be a carrier.
As for the basic rule of survival, here’s my advice, for what it’s worth: don’t do it to yourself or to other people. And if a governor, head or school leader (depending on your position in the hierarchy) tells you to keep in touch over Christmas, tell them (politely) where to stick the holly. Then pour a drink (if you indulge) and help yourself to another mince pie.
Happy Christmas!
Dr Bernard Trafford is a writer, educationalist and musician. He is a former headteacher of the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle, and past chair of HMC. He will take up the role of interim head of the Purcell School in Hertfordshire in January. He tweets @bernardtrafford
To read more of his columns, view his back catalogue
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