The teacher as a human reference: importance of their self-care

Abstract

This document emphasizes the importance of the teacher’s role as a human reference for their students; as a figure that daily models a particular way of living together, of being oneself and being in society, of relating to oneself, with other people and with the environment. In other words, as a professional who, beyond its academic work, inevitably becomes a life coach, modeling interaction and articulation with the context. That’s why it is so important to empower them with practical skills to perform a present and compassionate teaching, which can positively contribute to that humane and inescapable synergy. The need to strengthen skills for empathetic and warm teaching is strongly pointed out, which implies improving self-regulation, emotional management and personal self-care capacities, as well as to promote an active role in the recovery and maintenance of their own mental and emotional health, in order to position themselves in a healthier and more present way with their students.
As people who are in the first line of care for the most precious values for the country, such as childhood and adolescence, teachers require support to achieve this personal and professional strengthening, for the cultivation of their own inte-gral well-being and that of their students. Finally, the application of mindfulness is directly proposed as a training process that promotes this empowerment in the construction of capacities to improve the quality of one’s life and to achieve a teaching exercise in a more conscious, present and compassionate way.