“Set your house in order before you criticize the world” -Jordan B. Peterson
As educators, we can be professional problem solvers. Stuck with that math problem? Here’s a work around. Difficulty with a social situation? Here’s the school social counselor to take some time to help you figure it out. Looming project and don’t know where to start? Here’s a way to break things down into smaller, more manageable steps.
Problem(s) solved.
This problem-solving mentality is both imbued in the educator, and education as a system. There’s an implicit understanding that the education system is supposed to take care of prevailing social ills, and help make children into functioning, productive adults. Many educators can feel like teachers, security guards, psychologists, and philosophers all in one day.
And that’s the rub. That’s the challenge. As educators, we are pressed to solve problems. In turn, we might ignore our own problems. We might push off important things for our self-care that will not only make us feel better, but also be better educators.
Dr. Peterson’s quote above puts the whole idea into a quick snapshot that every educator should take to heart.
Take care of your house, take care of your room. Take care of yourself, your health, your mental well-being, and keep on taking care of it. Put things in order in your life, so that you can feel better and be better at what you do.
