STUDENT leaders have joined the discourse in calling for better conditions for their teachers who have been giving their all and staying the course amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Following the sudden deaths of nine teachers last week, the students, in an impassioned plea, have implored their teachers to find ways to protect their health and welfare.

Phillip Mcleggon Dixon, head boy of Excelsior High School, told the Jamaica Observer that if the teachers are unwell, it will affect the teaching and learning outcome.

“Failure to address the mental health needs of teachers, concurrent with our focus on student stress and trauma, may affect their ability to address the students’ critical needs. Therefore, teachers’ mental health issues are important because they not only have a detrimental effect on the teachers themselves, but they also directly affect classroom outcomes,” he said.

“We as a society must be cognisant of the fact that teachers have families to tend to and needs to be fulfilled as well. Thus, if our teachers are not equipped mentally to teach, then our students are at great risk.”

Dixon said there are several approaches that school leaders and the Ministry of Education can consider to alleviate the mental crisis among teachers.

“These include having mental health rap sessions where specialists are invited to engage teachers on issues affecting them; reducing the unnecessary bureaucratic workload that teachers have to complete; compensating teachers well for their hard labour because they are the backbone to an educated society; and providing under-resourced schools with the necessary equipment to help teachers perform their daily tasks,” he told the Sunday Observer.

Theronie Hunt, head girl of St Hugh’s High School agreed, saying teachers should be protected in every way in order to preserve their vital contributions.

“Teachers play the role of great pioneers who instill high values and provide quality education for generations of students. As one can imagine, grappling with the effects and demands of the pandemic and their work environment, while also trying to maintain a healthy work-life balance, seems to be extremely challenging. Regrettably, the nation has mourned the loss of many teachers and as such, we are forced to acknowledge and prioritise their health and wellness,” Hunt reasoned.

If unacknowledged, the optimum performance of teachers, she continued, is jeopardised.

“In recognising their invaluable role in society I implore them to model self-compassion through self-care — dedicate time to themselves each day by doing activities that bring them solace, surround themselves with much love and support, and be unapologetic for the sake of their mental health and wellness. The greatness in our nation lies in their ability to perform at their best, and as such it is paramount that their wellness is prioritised.”

Roberto Morgan, head boy of St Jago High School, told the Sunday Observer that recent news reports highlighting the deaths of teachers in just over a week were very disheartening and alarming, especially for him as a student.

“Unquestionably, these reports have brought to our attention the wellness of our dear educators. On May 4 [Teachers’ Day] we celebrated our teachers in glorious fashion, showing our most sincere appreciation for their selfless commitment to our nation’s future. However, though such gesticulations are good, a much deeper need must also be addressed,” he said.

“We must understand that teachers have struggles and, countless times, are deeply affected by the workload and burden they have to carry, especially those who combat underlying illnesses. Therefore, it is incumbent on our nation to ensure our teachers are well physically and, most importantly, mentally.”

Morgan said everyone, including teaching professionals, must take stock of their mental wellness.

“Poor mental health can lead to unwanted tragedies. Furthermore, I encourage all teachers across Jamaica to remain strong and take the challenges of life one step at a time.”

Danielle Howell, a prefect at Ardenne High School, added that teachers are guides to the nation’s future, the nurturers of the world’s “new set of adults”, and act as core pieces to a student’s life.

“They are humans, and all humans should take care of their mental health. For all they do for us students — from simply teaching us, dealing with our tantrums, and even helping us with our own mental health — I believe in the importance of teachers maintaining mental health.

“Our teachers get up every day and lay out their lesson plans that take them a while to make and get approved and teach. They discipline and love us every day; the least that they can have is… good mental health. They wouldn’t be able to process without it. Teachers who are tired mentally don’t dish out the same quality of work as mentally well teachers do…good mental health is equal to mental wealth.”

Student council president at Calabar High School, Dontae Whitely told the Sunday Observer that from what he has seen, the role of a teacher is a “very stressful” one. Whitely said it has been more evident as they work assiduously with exam students who begin sitting Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) exams on Monday.

“Teachers have been placed at a disadvantage due to school starting late and having to adjust to a hybrid form of teaching. They have to teach the syllabus in time for external exams, mark SBAs [School Based Assessments], help the students correct their SBAs, and then remark the submissions — and this is just for the exam cohort. Similar to students, they have deadlines to meet,” he said.

“Some teachers go above and beyond for their students by coming to school on their ‘off’ days, helping students with assignments late in the nights, or delaying their lunch times to help students just so that they can achieve the best grade possible. Even after their work is done at school, they still go home to their families and repeat this cycle.”