Chalkface: Hard Working Teachers

"Teachers work so hard."

Or:

"Teachers have it so easy with all those holidays."

Both statements are true: 13 weeks’ holiday but a dreadful workload between. Furthermore, I had been Head of Sixth Form, so between September and February each year, the amount of work I had to do sometimes brought me to breaking point. Many ‘Heads of Sixth’ were Assistant Headteachers with light timetables, but I was plain middle management. Taking responsibility for 110 university applications each year, Sixth Form discipline, recruitment, assemblies, prefect rotas and the like, as well as the usual rounds of teaching, marking, reporting, preparing and planning, pushed me to the edge. I often worked at school from 7.30am to between 10-11.30pm each night, finally leaving my desk when all else had gone home. I would leave early at 7pm on Thursdays to lead the Bible Study at Martin Top, which was the one exception. In 2017 and 2018, I negotiated a part time contract with the school so that I got Wednesday afternoon or the whole day off; I often spent these days in school trying to keep on top of my workload. I did this for several years before finally handing in my notice and becoming a part time teacher, allowing me to give more to the chapel.

I can put my hand on my heart and say that I worked hard as a teacher. Yet how hard is too hard, and how hard is just right? Do I work hard as a pastor? If so, how hard is too hard, and how hard is just right? I now have no Head of Faculty, Head of Pastoral, Headmaster, Chairman of Governors or OFSTED Inspector looking over my shoulder to check the quantity or quality of my output. Indeed, if I were to spend all Friday and Saturday in bed, would any at my church notice? Wouldn’t I get away with it? Sadly, I have come across lazy pastors. I have also heard of some who burned themselves out and became spiritually damaged thereafter. How does one walk the tightrope, avoiding both idleness and exhaustion?

Perhaps we should keep reminding ourselves of the reason for our industry. If it is to gain a name, or impress others, or warrant a pay rise, we might be mistaken. Paul tells the bondsmen of Colossae in 3:23:

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men

Roman slaves certainly knew the meaning of hard work and inadequate reward. Yet Paul elevates their toil as service for Christ. God builds rest into our working week and expects us to take time out to worship and be with our families. Yet if we are inclined to laziness, we should contemplate that our heavenly Master observes us and shall one day demand accounts. If we are more inclined to workaholism, the God of heaven demands we have no idols before Him; being consumed by our work is hardly helpful to godliness.  

Adam before the Fall was to tend the Garden and plan for its expansion. Work is good. Work is noble. Work should never, however, impede our relationship with God inasmuch as it is in our power to alter this. 

But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou. Deuteronomy 5:14