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THERE is some stress but it is manageable.
That's what some principals told The New Paper.
But that is easier said than done, responded the teachers.
They were speaking after The New Paper reported that a teacher was arrested for shoplifting at Tampines Mall on Sunday.
The teacher told The New Paper that his action was the result of work and family-related stress.
Though the teachers and principals agree on one thing - stress cannot be an excuse for committing a crime - they had different views on stress in schools.
Mrs Elsie Lim, 59, principal of Wellington Primary School, questioned the teacher's claim of stress during school holidays.
She said: 'The holidays are for the teachers to reflect and tie up loose ends, so how can it be stressful?'
But some teachers disagreed with her.
A primary school teacher from the east said the job is stressful as teachers are pressured by on-going projects even during the holidays, such as being put in charge of organising the library week, sports day and other big events for the following year.
'It is indeed stressful because of the ranking done during individual performance appraisal,' the teacher said.
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School's reply: Teachers encouraged to talk to us
AFTER our report yesterday, the teacher's school sent in this reply:
As the case is currently under police investigations, the school is unable to comment further on (the incident).
With regard to work-life balance, the school adopts a consultative approach when it comes to work assignments, and holds discussions with the relevant teachers before the teachers take up projects.
These discussions are held at various stages in the year (beginning, mid and end).
At the end of the year, when the school is planning for the coming year, teachers are also consulted on their preferred levels, subjects and CCAs.
The school adopts an open-door policy, where teachers are regularly encouraged to talk to the management with regard to their work, family or personal problems.
This includes the half-yearly discussions with teachers on their progress and challenges they are facing at work.
In addition, to encourage work-life balance, the school blocks out various parts of the holidays for teachers to go on leave.
For example, no school activities have been planned from Dec 1 to Dec 26 this year.
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'It is very stressful during holidays because we must start thinking about and preparing for the projects such as sports day, as well as the class assigned to us for the following year so that we can maintain or improve our individual ranking.'
A 27-year-old teacher, who wanted to be known only as Ms Tan, said: 'Most teachers have only two weeks of real holidays because we get called back for long meetings. Therefore, the holidays are not really a luxury of time for us.'
But there were those who felt that it all boiled down to time management as a way of managing stress.
Said a teacher who teaches in the east: 'Time management, especially during term-time, is important so that you can enjoy the holidays. If you can finish your work in the term, then you will have time for yourself during the holidays.'
SELF-MANAGEMENT
Besides time, there is also self-management.
It is the way an individual processes a problem and is a key to managing stress.
A vice-principal from a primary school said: 'Stress is in every job but it depends on self-management. It's all about yourself and how you perceive the situation before you.'
Keeping a balance between work and life is important, especially to manage stress.
Said Miss Fong Bee Cheng, 58, principal of Mee Toh School: 'One should learn how to harmonise work and life. Teachers must know how to manage stress and time carefully so as to spend time with their families.'
A teacher, who has seen the quality of her life improve, puts it down to the five-day work week. It makes it easier for teachers to spend time with their family during weekends.
This helps teachers to balance work and family.
However, another teacher who gave her name as Miss Tan disagreed.
She said: 'The five-day work week policy looks very good on paper, but it is very hard to enforce on a personal level.
'Because a teacher's working hours are hard to account for, it's not like any other 8-to-5 job.'
Miss Tan said that was one of the reasons that she resigned yesterday after four years in the profession.
Shanti A.S. is on a Teacher Work Attachment programme with The New Paper.
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