Teachers very rarely say no.
Whether it’s coaching a sports team, being asked to be part of a committee or helping out with a school event that n word very rarely crosses our lips.
Yesterday an after school activity I help supervise ran well over time and I didn’t leave school until after 7.00. Rather than push myself to be at school for a 7.30 meeting I decided the meeting wasn’t critical. Instead of wearing myself out, I simply emailed my leader to say I’d be late to the meeting.
Granted not all leaders would be cool with the email, but a tired and burned out teacher is not an effective teacher.
Nevertheless, I still felt guilty as I arrived at 7.40.
Baby steps.