Education – Jungian Educator.com

A few days ago, I considered returning to blogging. I knew my focus on education so I closed my eyes and concentrated on the state of education. Almost like a dream, this is the vision that I saw;

I am high above a wide open plain. I see thousands of kids on horses, racing across the plains. They riding from my left to my right. The horses are of different sizes and colors. Of course, they all are traveling at different speeds but all are heading in the same direction. Some look very weak, as do their horses, and they eventually slow down and stop. A few others fall off their horses and are trampled by the rush of horses that come after them. A few others peel away from the pack and are seen riding to a saloon or making drug deals with shady characters.

We focus back on the pack of horses and their riders. As the view changes to be behind the riders, we see that they all reacting towards a thriving city. The city looks very prosperous and clean. It is all new with no dilapidated houses or buildings. However, there is a huge chasm between the prosperous city and the plain. But all is not lost for there are four bridges connecting the plains to the city.

On the right is wooden bridge. This wooden bridge is sturdy but not very attractive. The good news is, by its position over the chasm, it is the shortest bridge. On top of that, it nothing to cross, unlike some of the other options.

Next to the wooden bridge is a huge and glittery bridge of gold. It is twice as long as the wooden bridge. On top that, there are official-looking standing in front of the bridge, ready to interview and turn down anyone who tries to cross. In addition, they are collecting a $5 toll to enter the bridge.

To the left of the golden bridge is a strong iron bridge painted silver. The paint is starting to peel away. This bridge is equally as long as the golden bridge. There are officials at the entrance but they are only charging a $1 toll.

To the left of the silver bridge is an ugly and meandering bridge that is at least twice as long as any of the other bridges. There is no toll and they advertise that they have never charged a toll for this bridge. It is the bridge of the people. However, it warns that your only payment is to work on this bridge while you cross it.

As the riders get close to the bridge, they slow down and ponder their decision. As they ponder, a few riders wander into a music store and come out with guitars, drums, amplifiers and microphones. A few others wander into art stores and come out with supplies. These groups decide to find their own way across the chasm.

With the view of higher education, you should answer the question,”Which bridge do you prefer and did that work for me?” Did you ever end up in the City of Prosperity?

If I look at my Instagram account, many of my followers are teachers. Mostly primary and elementary teachers. They seem to be young and energetic and full of positive vibes and a love for their kids. However, if I look at those accounts this time of year, their posts are full of relief for the coming of Spring Break. They have dreams of beaches and doing something close to nothing, except working on their tans and drinking “boat drinks.” You know, those elaborate drinks you get on cruise ships. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against those things; On Wednesday, I am heading to a Florida beach for sunshine and stiff margaritas and visions of bikinis. That is not my point.

My point is that these young and idealistic people are worn out and tired eight or nine months after they started with so much Life and hope. But they are tired. They are young and they are tired. On the other end of the spectrum, there is me. I am older (I turn 59 on Thursday) and I am not really a high energy guy. But I love my teenagers and my job. I love the opportunity to celebrate my birthday on a warm beach but I also miss my kids and teaching them. Am I tired? Not really. Yeah, I left a stack of tests on my desk because I have lost focus for now. Tired is one thing but stress is another.

I feel so little stress that, at times, I feel a little bored…Wait. Let me qualify that. Does the pressures of being a public school teacher and, hence, a government employee stress me? Yes, it prevents me from being a pure educator. Does the politics of administrators above me stress me? Absolutely! Does the fact that we, as a group, do a terrible job at protecting and educating our teenagers stress me? Yes again. But, when I am left alone to educate and protect these kids, I feel relaxed and full of joy and, sometimes, bored when they are not in my classroom.

How did I get to this point? Have I always been like this as a teacher? To answer the second, I used to be pretty nasty as a teacher. I used a lot of yelling and screaming and slamming things on the floor. I have had tug of war incidents with students over a bag of chips. I have been threatened. I have been shoved. I have cursed. I have gone home so worn out from getting angry at everybody.

The answer to the former question is psychology and planning and more psychology. I did not solve my stress problems, at work and at home, until I learned about psychology. Not your standard stuff but the deep, cut to your soul stuff. First it was working with a psychologist about my personal demons. Then it was sports and performance psychology. Then it was (and is) a dissertation combining math teaching and psychology. I have learned many tricks combining education and deep psychology. What are these tricks? It looks like you have to follow this blog to find out. (Or just ask me.) One day, I want to teach many teachers how to deal with the systems that we currently have. Anybody with me?