Seasons Will Change

A Taoist Approach to Teacher Wellbeing

Maria White

• Publisher: The Mind Full Teacher
• Year: 2020
• ISBN:
  9780648757214
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Philosophy
• Subtopic: Eastern Philosophy

“For those educators who are struggling right now, know that you are not alone. You are not a failure. You are a teacher to the very core of your being, regardless of whether it is in a formal classroom or not. For you teach what it is to be human – a human being. And that is the greatest lesson you could ever teach anyone.”

And so begins Seasons Will Change, an ambitious reimagining of Lao-Tzu’s centuries old text, The Tao Te Ching, contextualised by Maria White for the modern classroom teacher.

Providing sage-like advice on topics such as conflict resolution; managing change; leadership; classroom
discipline and mindful teaching, Seasons Will Change is a holistic, practical and insightful guidebook for
any educator who wants to take back control and help improve their own wellbeing.

VERSE 1

There are a few different translations for the word Tao, such as The Way or How.

The Tao is a principle, a way of seeing how the world works.

It is eternal, as it relates to the creation of all things.

It cannot be defined, but it is real.

It can be found inside you, through self-awareness or meditation.

To discover it, a Master Teacher must adopt an open mind, and avoid prejudices.

A closed mind only sees what it wants to see.

By knowing about the Way, you know How things happen.

VERSE 2

In a balanced world, there are polarities.

When you recognise something as good, you immediately define what is bad.

As soon as you define what ‘is’, its opposite must be true.

Up needs down.

High needs low.

Light needs dark.

Easy needs hard.

Finding true balance is challenging.

If you focus too much on one side of the spectrum, the other side will eventually appear.

A person obsessed with beauty, over time becomes ugly.

A person who brags about being charitable, is in the end egotistical.

Therefore a Master Teacher should try to let events unfold naturally,

Rather than push them.

She should let pressures come and go,

Without fixating on them.

She should work well and passionately,

Without expecting praise in return.

A Master Teacher knows that leading by example is the most effective way,

And that is why she is so well respected.

VERSE 3

By praising one behaviour too much,

A teacher disregards other behaviours.

Students will therefore strive to please the teacher,

Rather than respect other ways of being,

And so will start judging their own performance.

If a teacher becomes materialistic,

And focuses too much on grades and outcomes,

They create a climate of competitiveness,

And students will no longer take risks for fear of failure.

A Master Teacher understands

That her role is to disrupt, not accelerate, a child’s conditioning.

To raise questions,

And challenge a student’s understanding of the world.

To get them out of their heads,

And into their hearts.

Then to stand back and watch what unfolds.

VERSE 4

The Tao is a principle, rather than a process or thing,

Therefore it is without limits.

It creates, but does not take.

It explains all behaviours and events,

And is forever present.

VERSE 5

Those who know of the Tao

Understand that in a balanced world,

The justice handed down by Nature will take no sides.

Consequences for actions will unfo...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Contents
• Acknowledgements
• Introduction
• Verse 1
• Verse 2
• Verse 3
• Verse 4
• Verse 5
• Verse 6
• Verse 7
• Verse 8
• Verse 9
• Verse 10
• Verse 11
• Verse 12
• Verse 13
• Verse 14
• Verse 15
• Verse 16
• Verse 17
• Verse 18
• Verse 19
• Verse 20
• Verse 21
• Verse 22
• Verse 23
• Verse 24
• Verse 25
• Verse 26
• Verse 27
• Verse 28
• Verse 29
• Verse 30
• Verse 31
• Verse 32
• Verse 33
• Verse 34
• Verse 35
• Verse 36
• Verse 37
• Verse 38
• Verse 39
• Verse 40
• Verse 41
• Verse 42
• Verse 43
• Verse 44
• Verse 45
• Verse 46
• Verse 47
• Verse 48
• Verse 49
• Verse 50
• Verse 51
• Verse 52
• Verse 53
• Verse 54
• Verse 55
• Verse 56
• Verse 57
• Verse 58
• Verse 59
• Verse 60
• Verse 61
• Verse 62
• Verse 63
• Verse 64
• Verse 65
• Verse 66
• Verse 67
• Verse 68
• Verse 69
• Verse 70
• Verse 71
• Verse 72
• Verse 73
• Verse 74
• Verse 75
• Verse 76
• Verse 77
• Verse 78
• Verse 79
• Verse 80
• Verse 81
• Copyright