It’s election time in South Africa and the country is abuzz with political conversation and debate. Everyone wants to feel as though they have had their say, even if having their say means not making an appearance at the polls. Either way, the current state of leadership in our country has been heavily compromised over the last few years and we as a nation can only but hope in the promise of a new day, and become agents of change within our own capacities -be the change we want to see, in our own way and in our own community.

As a teacher, I have been deeply impacted by the poor showing of our youth at the polls. And whilst I respect the democratic right to choose to not vote, and I certainly recognize and empathize with the plight of our youth in this country – I cannot help but believe in our future generation and am saddened by their lack of belief in themselves and the power that their voice holds. I know that some may argue that by choosing to stay away, their silence in itself speaks a powerful message, I still worry about those who feel that there is “just no point to it all.” Empowering our youth to recognize the power of their voice and to value that takes work – work that begins in our schools. Work that involves a collaborative and supportive effort between teachers and parents to encourage student-parent-teacher conversation and dialogue.

For years, parent-teacher conferences have been the the norm in terms of school to home communication about the progress of individual learners. Very often, the conversation is centered on how both the teacher and parent/s view a child’s current performance and ability, with very little feedback ever being presented back to the child. How the child reflectively views themselves, their individual strengths and weaknesses and their desired goals for themselves is left out of the equation and their own voice is silenced. However, Student Led Conferences is a global trend in education that aims to drastically and positively change this.

A year ago, my school decided to boldly give our learners a chance to lead the conversation. Having recently sat through my third round of these conferences, I can honestly say that I am blown away by just how well each child manages to rise to the occasion and take accountability and control over their own learning outcomes. Held at the end of the first term and again at the end of the year, the children are given time to reflect on their performance and abilities, set personal goals for themselves that are individually driven, and come up with practical plans of action to help them get there. The power does not lie in the conversation itself, but in the personal ownership and self-advocacy that this platform generates.

Witnessing a child express to their parents what they feel they have excelled in and what they feel that they can improve on is inspiring. In some cases, this is actually the very first time that children and parents are actively engaging in positive conversation that centers completely on the child’s learning experience. Children are given the opportunity to express to their parents who they are as a learner- how they learn best, what they benefit from and what they would like assistance with. Feedback from so many of my parents indicates that they are given an opportunity to see their child in a way that they have never seen before – that they are self-assured, honest and empowered. From a classroom perspective, these conferences have also enhanced the level of individual focus that is placed on each child and their goals – when a goal is set not only by the teacher but from the heart of the child, the value of that goal drastically increases. Suddenly, there is a personal investment and a sense of teamwork grows.

Lets us not underestimate our children. By creating platforms within our schools for children to develop confidence in speaking about themselves, valuing themselves and encouraging accountability – we as teachers are able to positively giveback to the future generation. There is work to be done so let’s go out and make the difference!

It has been a while since my last post, just over a year in fact and it sure does feel good to be writing again. The reason for my silence you may ask? Well…LIFE I guess.

I am now one of those cliche’s who unashamedly has to confess that she managed to get pulled in… swept back by the rip-tide of the busyness, pressure and utter chaos that was 2018! With every wave, I found myself paddling harder and harder, yet always feeling as though I just could not catch a break. However, perseverance prevailed and here I am…

A firm believer in “everything happens for a reason”, I choose to walk away from one of the most personally trying seasons in my teaching career with grace and appreciation. Appreciation for the challenging times, the rewarding times, the opportunities for growth and introspection, and also just for the lessons learnt. The saying that teachers are “lifelong learners” rings so true – for every challenge that we face, there is always a greater reward. We may not always find ourselves in comfortable situations; that emotionally charged parent meeting, the difficult colleague, the tough but right decisions that have to be made…but the gift of hindsight always affords us a greater perspective on things. Personally, I have come to realize what in theory I suppose I have always known – as an empath right down to the core, I care. I worry. I panic and break out in all sorts of ailments. I have restless nights. I obsess, and I just want to make things better. Managing these traits so that I am able to protect my sensitivities is a work in progress, but embracing these traits is a gift that I am only now allowing myself to embrace.

“Empaths are highly sensitive, finely tuned instruments when it comes to emotions. They feel everything, sometimes to an extreme, and are less apt to intellectualize feelings. Intuition is the filter through which they experience the world. Empaths are naturally giving, spiritually attuned, and good listeners. If you want heart, empaths have got it. Through thick and thin, they’re there for you, world-class nurturers.” — Judith Orloff,MD

As teachers, we are wives and husbands, sons and daughters, aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters, parents, friends and colleagues… we are many things to many people. We are family; mentors, educators, listeners, caregivers, providers, secret keepers, peacemakers… and let’s be honest, it can be overwhelming at times, ok, all of the time! But I believe that in order to be a teacher, we all have empath qualities here and there…we wouldn’t be in our profession if we didn’t. Yes, some may argue that we are too sensitive, that we take on too much, but the counter argument it that at least we do CARE, we NURTURE and are fiercely COMMITTED to our cause. And while we may have to work a little harder than others to keep our head above water so that we don’t physically and emotionally drown…being an empath is a gift in my life; although, I am only now learning to value the need to take care of myself. Self care is crucial – taking time out to fill your own cup is a necessity as we pour so much of ourselves into the lives of others. You can’t pour from an empty cup so familiarize yourself with your own needs. It is important to honour these needs and communicate them to your loved ones. Acts of self-care are the ultimate act of self-love. Be kind to yourself, because you matter too!