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I believe the old adage that you can't fill your cup from an
empty pitcher. What so many administrators don't seem to
understand is that building their teachers' ego, self-image,
confidence, moral is so much more beneficial than dumping a
load of heavy responsibility, guilt, and sadness on them. I've sat
through meetings like yours, where the admins seem to be
trying to tell teachers that all the ills of the world are the
responsibility of the teacher to address and fix. The truth is
that while teachers can be supportive of kids in crisis, listening
ears, shoulders to cry on, and points of contact for further
help...the teacher's main role is that of teacher. Counseling,
psychiatry, psychology, social work, etc., really should not be
done by teachers unless they have their degrees in those areas
as well and have hung their shingles outside their doors inviting
clients. Administrators who want to put the guilt trip on their
teachers are just trying to make teachers feel that there is no
excuse when their efforts to educate students fail or fall short.
When they make you feel like you are responsible for everything
beyond the classroom, they erase all possibility of you ever
being considered successful. They would do so much better to
send you to your students feeling like you are a good teacher,
have so much to offer, are so competent, are greatly
appreciated, are trusted, and are a prize catch for your
students! If they would fill your pitcher with a feeling of
confidence in your success, then what you would pour into your
students would be the same. Another old adage: Success
begets success.

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