Being stripped of a classroom, students and the interpersonal joys of “real” teaching has left me, like many others, feeling hugely frustrated. Unable to have the impact on young people I want to, and struggling to reach wide engagement with online learning, I have never felt like less of a teacher.
Setting up an online writing competition, Generation Lockdown Writes, was an attempt to offer something positive to young people, to encourage them to reflect on their unique experience in writing.
Ten wonderful children’s authors agreed to judge the competition, and my publisher agreed to publish the final book, which will include the top five entries chosen from each age group. This book will then be sold to raise money for the BookTrust charity.
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The response from young people has been amazing and far beyond what I hoped for, with over 1,000 entries from all over the UK in the first week alone.
So, what have the words I’ve read so far taught me about young people, and what are the implications for us as their teachers?
1. Young people are feeling hugely vulnerable and lonely
They are missing their connections and relationships. Anxiety and stress levels about the future are extremely high. A telephone call, or an email from a teacher to check in, is hugely powerful in reminding them that they are still in our thoughts - and we are looking forward to welcoming them safely back to school. Communication through technology is so much more nuanced and complex, but making sure empathy is at the heart of our online interactions with students is so important.
2. Many are feeling overwhelmed by the extent of their online learning
We are all doing our best to navigate the new world of online learning, but being mindful that many young people have no support, and the work may take them longer than we think, makes a real difference in helping them to manage the stress of balancing it all. I don’t say this lightly, but the complexity of this situation requires an adjustment of our expectations on young people.
3. The gratitude, compassion and care at the heart of many of the entries is profoundly moving
All too often, these young people are labelled as “Generation Me” - but their understanding of why things are, and how they should behave, is such that would often put adults to shame. I know I will aim to be more vocal in defending young people against such charges in the future, and hope to learn from their capacity to put others’ needs before their own.
4. Many entries touch upon an altered perspective and new appreciation of education and their teachers
Those relationships that are the heart of all good schools and classrooms will need a huge amount of work when we return. I don’t think it is naive, however, to suggest that this experience could signal a new-found understanding and respect from young people for the contribution we make to their lives.
I am sure I share the anxiety and unease of many teachers about returning to school. This project, however, has been a profound reminder of just how vital school is for young people, and how important it will be moving forward.
It may require reserves that don’t feel quite robust enough yet, but whenever we do get the chance to step back into a classroom, I know that as a profession we will be ready to do the best for them.
Jamie Thom is a teacher and author based in Scotland, whose book A Quiet Education: challenging the extrovert ideal in our schools was published in February. He tweets @teachgratitude1
