My epiphany was prefaced with some slight research regarding PTSD (I am working on an observational hypothesis relating to how participation in WWII affected the parenting styles of returning solders and their spouses/families). This process led me to a generalized understanding of the signs and symptoms of PTSD.
It did not take me long to connect the characteristics of PTSD to certain teacher behaviors and outlooks.
This connection between PTSD and the public school teacher was initiated by one of the manifestations involved in PTSD - the phenomenon of triggers. A trigger is an occurrence that takes place outside or within the mind of the individual that, once experienced, the trigger "brings up" an emotional and/or physical response in relation to the previously experienced stress.
The concept:
When the NCLB act (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Child_Left_Behind_Act) was enacted in 2001 a sudden wave of potential anxiety and stress began its menacing journey to envelop the minds and hearts of educational professionals. The law's requirements for accountability, testing and school improvement was truly the aspect that brought with it the most apprehension and doubt. If testing results were not adequate for meeting the needs of annual yearly progress the teachers of those students were reprimanded (in some form or another) and placed into professional environmental situations that were stressful.
As a side note - I feel that sometimes, when I use the word stress, we tend to brush it aside. It is a word like awesome, hilarious, love, or God. Its used so often and in varying context that it loses its true meaning.
When I use the word stress I am referring to the far-reaching consequences on one's physical and mental health. In short...Stress = Disease = Cell Death = Stress = Disease = Cell Death = Stress = Disease = Cell Death....This is a very serious issue and we need to focus on the realities of interactions with prolonged and unpredictable stress inducing situations.
And so our NATIONS public school teachers have been experiencing seasonal stress inducing experiences that affect the daily operations and interactions of teachers and their cummunity.
