How can we support the emotional well-being of teachers? | Sydney Jensen

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Teachers emotionally support our kids -- but who's supporting our teachers? In this eye-opening talk, educator Sydney Jensen explores how teachers are at risk of "secondary trauma" -- the idea that they absorb the emotional weight of their students' experiences -- and shows how schools can get creative in supporting everyone's mental health and wellness.
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[@hrm087]

This comment section is getting so toxic. We realize the students need support as well, and the speaker also makes that case. That’s why we’re there, because we want to support our kids and lift them up. Why can’t we help both students and teachers and not sacrifice one for the other? The fact that people are so defensive and feel that teachers like myself don’t need extra support than what we’re getting is why this problem exists. You don’t have to advocate for us, but there’s no reason to advocate against us.

[@Radioactive_Nerd]

That's my teacher, so thanks for backing her up

[@madam.president.mbuli1]

I'm in a school in South Africa and it's crazy how teachers are being treated, not only by their superiors but the students too. These days, breaking teachers down mentally seems to be the main goal of the students. It's insane.

[@greeneyedcat2748]

Did anyone have a favorite teacher ?, yes we all did, I guarantee you that teacher had the support of the system, his/her peers, and family, causing that teacher to pragmatically be better than some others. When we invest into the mental health of our teachers we predominately invest into our children. Just a thought.

[@shaunpatryck]

Wrong... These teachers need to leave everything home and do w.e it takes no matter the hardships to make sure these kids are taken care of, educated and fed. Their emotions mean nothing! Unbias Teaching Methods are the only methods needed

[@greeneyedcat2748]

@@shaunpatryck Shaun I was brought up by Vietnam vets in the class room who were largely ignored in Australia in the 80's, we also had corporal punishment being hit by the grace of a cane at the teachers discretion, it could've been different if all parties involved took more care of each others mental and otherwise health, anything less in the work place is inhumane. just my thoughts.

[@shaunpatryck]

@@greeneyedcat2748 catholic schools in America did the same thing with rulers with unruly childern... they didnt step out of line too often, I'd be happy to go back to a very regimented schooling. All the power to charter and private schools!

[@terryisaac8195]

@@shaunpatryck I also spent 12+ years in Catholic schools and was educated by Dominican nuns throughout those years. You received fair treatment only if your parents were well-off, rich, or politically-connected; my adopted parents were none of those things. I made it all the way through and graduated!!!

[@shaunpatryck]

@@terryisaac8195 yes.... && not having wealthy parents was a good thing... In public you would've been treated like every other.... your catholic school you were looked down upon increasing your drive so that is a massive plus.

[@shenviamann6137]

My link from 4 years ago is still hanging on her ceiling. Love Ms. Jensen & always will!!!!

[@danielhartl8476]

LHS you know! Loved Ms. Jensen as well

[@joetaylor486]

I work in the EMS services in the UK and your very empassioned talk has motivated me to try something different. Passing appraisal on other members of staff seems like a great way to go x

[@ghost21501]

Let's start with making sure that teachers can afford to live and pay for all their bills. Not all teachers have the luxury of being a rich person's husband or wife. A lot of teachers, especially men have extreme stress not being able to provide for their families on a teacher's salary. This causes a ton of stress, which translates into poor performance as a teacher. Why have we decided as a society that teachers should be paid less than a McDonald's manager?

[@aaronrosenberg6633]

And colleges are feeding this dysfunction as well by hiring about 50% adjunct faculty, paying them less and denying benefits. These teachers often have no office hours and must take multiple jobs to make ends meet. They cannot be there for their students emotionally and are stressed out themselves.

[@aliceclark2118]

As a student I totally agree. Thanks for raising this point. We all need support and teachers are being put under intense pressure when all many want to do is help x

[@markc6714]

You mean during the few weeks of the year they actually work ? I work 16 hrs a day in a private sector job so I have no sympathy for teachers taking a bit of work home.

[@Slingin_Mary_Alex]

Yes totally, Alice! Thanks for being so kind. It's a really tough job. Anyone who hasn't done it doesn't know. Thank you :)

[@beatforjesusbykellym2104]

This was the best TED talk I’ve seen straight from the heart! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@thornmatthew8395]

Pay them more

[@Prog4Prog]

walperstyle socialism just died ;)

[@onetwo3706]

Economics

[@shoelessb4515]

you cant pay teachers enough to put up with physical assaults and verbal abuse from 15 year old assh"*'*. Each campus needs its own swat team and judge on duty.

[@noorussabhakhan2527]

Sydney Jensen, you have such a remarkable purpose and vision! I was glued to the screen absorbing all that you were trying to get across, I look forward to more talks of yours! Kudos!

[@HistorySkills]

This was a brilliant talk, thank you! I have been trying to do my bit to support History teachers from around the world, but it is only a drop in the bucket compared with what is really needed.

[@dr.rutvishah3100]

Very inspiring and eye-opening talk on how teachers are at risk of "secondary trauma" and "How can we support the emotional well-being of teachers".

[@GreenMM_11]

Beautiful words from a beautiful soul 🧡💛💚❤️

[@larasmith2931]

🦋that’s why it’s so important to talk to others.its amazing your light may be what helps them not commit suicide

[@JesseSierke]

I think too many Americans hold currently practicing teachers accountable for problems that they faced as students, and which left lifetime resentments against schools and the people who work and volunteer for them.

[@Keshlynne]

You also have the problem of too many parents being unwilling to admit that their children aren't perfect little angels and therefore blame the teachers, when it comes down to the failings of not just the system, but of the parents of the students, as well.

[@ijayita]

Conducive , precise and well presented speech explaining how we can support the emotional well-being of teachers.

[@meenakshikamboj3182]

This talk made me emotional....such a heart touching talk

[@user-er8qi5ik9u]

I really like TED ❤❤❤🥰💜 My favorite Channel 〰️

[@dr.vrushaliwagh1682]

Excellent, wonderful and insightful talk on "How can we support the emotional well-being of teachers".

[@eukande]

Thanks for all this knowledge!!!

[@estherrogers5553]

👏👏👏👏👏👏🙌 As an ECE teacher I completely agree with her.

[@sydneyjensen3724]

Esther Rogers Thank you for this nice comment, and thank you for being a teacher. ❤️

[@giuliaspersonal6460]

man I wish my teachers were like you 🥺

[@GraceEllenMusic]

As a high school teacher in Australia, I would sometimes teach 150 students a day. Not counting the students you speak to at lunch breaks or those that use your classroom as a refuge during breaks because they're scared of the playground....it's such a difficult job :(

[@dr.bhartisehta8443]

Touching and meaningful.

[@Nunya_Bidnez]

I'm from Detroit. A favorite teacher of mine was beaten by a mother during parent teacher conferences with brass knuckles. She mentally never recovered and never returned to teaching. She had to crawl to the office on her elbows for help. All because the student was failing on their own. This is what I had to deal with as a student daily. It's hard to learn if your afraid of dying every day in class. Sorry but my issues were far worse. Metal detectors at the door and chains on them during class. Daily fights in just my class alone. There was a week that we played games because so many classmates where sent home for fighting. The teacher could not legally proceed with the number of students. Fix this first. Reply and like if you were that kid.

[@Keshlynne]

I have a friend who was the teacher when a student punched her several times, to the point he broke her nose and fractured her jaw (I don't know what led him to do this, other than he was a problem before and had made several threats on her life). She was in the hospital for two days. She was, quite literally, told by the administration that if she pressed charges against the student for assaulting her that she would be fired. She pressed charges, anyway, and she was indeed fired. Now she's in the middle of a lawsuit against the school and she admitted to me that she will probably never go back to teaching because of this experience. It's both the students and the teachers that suffer when our system breaks down to that degree.

[@Nunya_Bidnez]

@@Keshlynne Awful. Thanks for sharing this. The people need to know.

[@uncle_martin1131]

I think that there is nothing that can be fixed there. It can be heartless but maybe, the only possible way is just to let them fight, hoping that Darwin will do the rest. Once they choose the way of the violence as their primary path, they, as persons, are far gone. Teachers chose a hard path, but they are still only humans, and can do that mutch for their students. Life is a teacher too, a heartless, hard and unforgiving one. Wish all the best to the teachers of that school... regarding those kids... Let life do it's job.

[@Slingin_Mary_Alex]

@@Keshlynne good for her for not caving to the souless bastards. I hope she's ok.

[@cdspangler]

Kids have nothing to fear anymore and they know it so they can do these things with no punishment.

[@Sanjaysubbaedu]

very worthwhile session.Thank you very much.

[@khushbeerdhaliwal3931]

Relevant topic, need more such discussions.

[@angshumanchakraborty8238]

Very touchy lecture on emotional well-being of teachers.

[@MathWebs]

Thanks. Some students are tired, overburdened with knowledge and random quizzes and ready to quit from stress, and rather need votech and to use their hands as their art. So that happy students make happy teachers. gbu

[@markc6714]

What a load of rubbish. Kids have never had it easier with their electronic devices etc. I used to have to spend hours in the library to research something these brats find in 5 mins online. Kids in Asian countries do a lot lot more study. You're delusional.

[@hrm087]

I don’t understand how you got that message from this video at all. She doesn’t mention the students behavior or actions at all.

[@MathWebs]

@@hrm087 Well your comment is better than the previous one at least. The dumbdown comes in many ways and maybe smart teachers are keen to it but the students want to he like gangsta wannabees and are not taking life so seriously.

[@hrm087]

Mathization eBook so are they overly stressed or not taking life too seriously? Your comment makes it sound like the former. As a middle school teacher I see a mixed bag, not just one type.

[@MathWebs]

@@hrm087 Some students might not appreciate an education if they are overly stressed. Maybe some teachers who hope for the best get down from students grades or attitudes.

[@almartinicino5796]

Compelling. Thanks for this.

[@harshavagadia149]

Heart touching session on support the emotional well being of teacher

[@darshanpatel660]

Awesome talk on Emotional well being of teachers.

[@harshavala7850]

Thank you for the session

[@jk2010kj]

Very touching.... deep topic well addressed!

[@JayPatel-ds1xp]

Thank You for the session

[@dr.ankitaleanwala1035]

Thanks for sharing your experience

[@irani1500]

very relevant topic. teachers well being is very crucial in today's world. Thank you

[@aSHTEBALA]

Close your eyes, imagine sadness from inside out speaking

[@dr.sandeeproysarkar5287]

Thank you for your lecture.

[@ridipkhanikar6200]

Very inspiring presentation on a very interesting topic

[@shamprasadvarijaraghu6878]

Thank you for this video.

[@jorgesalles8692]

Excelente, precisamos de professor assim no Brasil

[@santidas1]

excellent talk on supporting well-being of teachers

[@dr.srigourikosuri6208]

Awesome talk about the emotional well being of teachers.

[@juthikabiswakarma]

Excellent presentation.

[@rajneeshgupta5200]

Well described presentation to understand need of addressing trauma of students

[@hasinasikdar8783]

Important discussion..thank you

[@madhushreemukherjee1255]

Nice discussion.Thank you.

[@WeallMaharashtra]

Important talk on support the emotional well-being of teachers.

[@jigneshraval9673]

Very Important Angle of Teacher's Life Is Shared.

[@pro.rajshreedilip5263]

glad hearing this speech for being a tearcher.

[@BasheeraAfrozShaikh]

Was glued to each and every word you said. As an elementary school teacher, its the behavior of seniors and colleagues which draw us down. Pressurizing teachers to follow their traditional methods instead of innovative just that students and their parents couldn't start liking or loving that teacher. Its so heart breaking.

[@Radioactive_Nerd]

That's my teacher!!!

[@bishnukumarbarudi7196]

Thank you very much

[@dattaganesh74]

Superb session, sir.

[@dipankardas46]

very important talk on supporting the emotional well-being of teachers

[@ProVishvjitAKava]

Verygood explaination.

[@balrajmachnoor1351]

Very inspiring session

[@RohitSharma-uf3hs]

Much needed topic

[@AVIJITDAS-ty4ki]

Thank you maam very good discussion.

[@harpalkaur4340]

I wish may all teachers becomes like u

[@roobiyakm3940]

Amazing talk

[@nittygritty7034]

We do need some hope

[@dr.surajsk7110]

So nice session.

[@user-lb4mk8bq3b]

Clear presentation

[@aliakbor7572]

Yes,everyone we are connected.The Example of my father connected to me and i connected my mother also my father connected to my mother.Thus way teacher also connected the student we should always remember that we have need to help by another person so becareful in your behavior.beacuse if you do anyone bad behavior then you also don't Expect to get the good behavior.This video also understood that we are all of connected and linking of many ways to everyone.

[@vijaynagpure5716]

Thank you , very nice

[@rantuhazarika5407]

Thank you.

[@sohailahmedkhan8982]

Beautiful Sydney

[@alympiasarkar9133]

Informative session

[@sucharitapramanick4213]

Good session for teacher students emotional relationship

[@nikitasonara2217]

Very nice video about emotional well being

[@abousivaly]

You’re right. I like your socioconstructivist nurturing approach 👍

[@pratibhavora790]

Thank you

[@dr.shuvojitmondal2503]

Nicely described.

[@dr.giridharihazra173]

Very nice presentation

[@monikaparmarsinam6564]

Very nice..very emotional

[@nanagholap5639]

Good information thanks

[@amitdholakia2467]

Nice talk on emotional well-being of teachers

[@drtaraknathchattopadhyay1776]

Clean presentation

[@janetmaxwell222]

I am a high school teacher. This is very realistic. What a fine person.

[@abahso.floetic3596]

I agree about emotional support for not only students but teachers as well.

[@jacobopstad5483]

Absolutely true! Teaching is not an easy job and supporting teachers means better support for the kids.

[@drbassasatyannarayana2507]

Very wonderful lecture Thanks and regards Dr BASSA SATYANNARAYANA

[@anishdoecusat]

Informative session on 'How can we support the emotional well-being of teachers' Dr. Anish Kumar M S

[@Dr.Kumar.G.26]

thank you

[@wilhelmoberon4973]

So cute girl! And so important subject for our minds and souls...

[@tcaDNAp]

Oof it hits different right before Covid-19... one of my friends got sent to the ER by her preschool student and had enough abuse to quit; schools have to change a lot to keep teachers!

[@dr.vijaypatil848]

Very nice informative video

[@shawttikiojha9820]

Informative one

[@rajujamadhar]

Thanks

[@espasmemuscular]

Personal responsability

[@dr.dineshpatel6253]

Thank you for the session.

[@dr.sumaiyashaikh6849]

A link and support is necessary for better survival and co-existence...

[@teachersilviamontufo]

Amazing ❤️

[@justinsebastian7126]

schools should be creative in supporting everyone's mental health and wellness.

[@aartipradhan4387]

Informative video

[@aaronrosenberg6633]

Addressing a secondary point she made - teachers supporting students - College students also live with various types of trauma, with freshmen often having the added weight of being away from home for the first time. While many colleges have decent student support systems, wouldn't it be nice for faculty to be able to support their college students in the same way? But because colleges have adopted the business model more than ever, and cut corners in the last decade or so by hiring 50% adjunct faculty (part-time without benefits and with lower pay), those teachers take multiple jobs and are usually stretched too thin to have the time and energy to give to such students. We feel bad about it, but earning enough to eat and care for our own necessitates taking care of oneself first. Colleges are pathetic to the end, and could learn a thing or two from Sydney Jensen.

[@thelining4078]

Lovely girl, outside and inside.

[@greeneyedcat2748]

We need more of them.

[@dr.taniachakraborty]

So moved by the talk, connecting really for being a teacher myself.