A teacher sabbatical is that one right teachers should not disregard lightly. Nowadays the stress levels of teaching run high and teachers are now faced with more demands than ever.
The primary purpose of a sabbatical is to engage in academic work, research, or other purposes that will increase the individual's competence in a subject area or give further professional growth and will ultimately, contribute to the improvement of the school. The idea behind a sabbatical is that such experiences will enhance the competence of the teacher to make himself or herself more productive in the classroom.
Here are a few important questions that should be asked regarding the nature of sabbaticals.
- Are you in a school district that allows a sabbatical leave?
- Are you guaranteed your teaching job upon your return?
- Do you run the risk in being moved to teaching a different grade or school upon your return?
- Do you have to return the sabbatical money upon your return?
- Is one year enough or do you want (or need) a longer leave of absence?
- What is your purpose in taking a sabbatical?
- Do you see the value in taking a sabbatical?
Here are a few issues to help time and plan your sabbatical without a bag full of unexpected worries.
- Don't wait until you're completely tired and burnt out. Excessive work and overtiredness does not make for effective teaching.
- The last thing a teacher needs is to worry financially during a year long absence from the school system. But just make sure you can you live off a sabbatical. Just because your salary might be less, doesn't mean you can't pursue a sabbatical. Explore other part time means of support such as private lessons, tutoring in small groups without the demand and pressure of a frontal classroom setting.
- Consider the time frame of your studies. Do you want to pursue an academic degree or a multi-leveled course? Online or offline? Some academic programs are two years; some are less.
- Enjoy your sabbatical. Explore other courses. A sabbatical is time to find a balance and plan things you haven't had the opportunity to do like gardening. Don't make every day a study day. Enjoy life. Your sabbatical will be over before you know so you might as well enjoy every minute.
Are you one of the lucky teachers who has taken a sabbatical? Do you know anybody who has taken a sabbatical? Do you have a sabbatical coming up? Does your school have a special policy regarding the nature of sabbaticals? Join the discussion and share your experiences.
