Quiet Quitting- Is it a thing in teaching or is it what teachers should actually be doing? Part 1

I recently read an article from It's Lit Teaching called The Ultimate Guide to Quiet Quitting. As an administrator, the term was of interest to me since I was told I have a teacher that has told others she is quietly quitting at my school. In addition, it is listed as one of the top ten words of 2022 and a word to banish.

So what is "quiet quitting" in teaching?

According to It's Lit, it is "It’s doing the job you’re compensated for without doing anything extra."

As a teacher, I did most of the things on Heather's list, except asking for extra compensation. As an administrator, I encourage my teachers to do the same (without the extra compensation part, however, I have a teacher who often does).

Is it not just as simple as doing your job to the best of your ability within the time frame given and having the courage to say NO when asked to do something you don't want to do.

Over a few posts, I will reflect on Heather's points in her ultimate guide to quiet quitting and give my interpretation as an administrator to a teacher:

1. Set boundaries around your time.  Yes, yes, and yes. There should not be a job that encompasses your life unless you are a business owner. If you are working for another person or another system, your time that is not obligated by contract or working hours should be your own. 

• Do not check your email outside of the school day! And if you do, respond to it only during working hours. And never get your personal cell phone to a student or parent. Your boss may text or contact you outside the school day, but you do not have to respond.
• As an administrator, I see teachers that often think planning time is "their" time. However, teachers should remember that except for lunch, the time is your school if it is during your contracted time. Planning time should be used for school-related work. Most teachers could eliminate work if they used planning effectively. 
• Do not grade everything! More on this later, but you are relieved from the guilt of not grading every darn paper/assignment you give out. Grade items that reflect standards and learning. Give participation grades if the students actively participated in a learning activity. Do not take grading home. Use your time wisely or grade differently. 
• Just say no: if it is not a required activity according to your contract, you are allowed to say no. Most teachers, in my opinion (it is my blog, so I am allowed to have it), are people pleasers. They do extra because it is expected. They do extra because they want to be teacher of the year. They do extra because they want to be "highly effective."  They do extra because their buddy does extra, so he convinces you to do extra. Just say no. No rule says you have to work extra because you are a teacher. 

Setting boundaries on your time also reflects how your time is spent. Take a careful look at how you are spending your work day. You would be expected to work a 40-hour work week in most jobs. Most teaching contracts are between 35-40 hours. What can you cut out? What time is wasted? How can you 

do things differently?

Next time: doing less