Today’s College Teachers: Overworked and Overwhelmed

Remember the days when teachers used to inspire us with their passion and love for teaching? When the mere mention of their name brought a smile to our faces and filled us with excitement for the next class? Well, those days seem to be long gone as today's college teachers are more loaded with academic work than ever before.

Gone are the days when a teacher's main responsibility was to stand in front of a class, share their knowledge and inspire their students. Today, we are expected to juggle multiple responsibilities that are taking away our love for teaching. From the never-ending pile of grading assignments to preparing lectures, attending meetings, supervising research projects, and preparing documents for NAAC and NBA, the academic work of today’s teachers is overwhelming.

We were attracted towards this profession because of their love for teaching. We had a deep passion for passing on their knowledge and inspiring the next generation. But now, the whole year gets over doing academic jobs and responsibilities and searching for a Scopus journal for paper publications. It's no longer about sharing knowledge and inspiring students; it's about publishing research, getting grants and climbing up the academic ladder.

The pressure to publish research in high-impact factor journals has become so intense that we, the teachers are sacrificing our love for teaching in the process. We are spending countless hours in front of a computer, analyzing data and writing articles (that no one reads except a few research scholars), instead of spending time with our students and developing meaningful connections. The obsession with maintaining academic documents and publishing research has become so intense that we are neglecting their primary responsibility - teaching.

The increased workload has also taken away the creativity and passion for teaching. With so much to do, we are left with little time to prepare creative and engaging lessons that inspire students. Instead, we are stuck with dry, boring lectures and monotonous teaching methods that do little to excite the students. The love for teaching has been replaced with the love for academic success.

Moreover, the increased workload is also taking a toll on the mental and physical health of teachers. The pressure to publish research, meet deadlines and manage multiple responsibilities is causing stress and burnout. Teachers are left feeling overwhelmed, exhausted and drained, which is affecting their performance in the classroom.

I understand that there was a time when a generation of teachers neglected their duties and today’s teachers have to pay the price. But the price, undoubtedly, is too heavy to pay. Today’s college teachers are more loaded with academic work and it has taken away their passion for teaching. The obsession with publishing research and climbing up the academic ladder has replaced the love for sharing knowledge. The increased workload and pressure are causing stress and burnout, and it's high time one starts giving teachers the support they need to rediscover their love for teaching. It's time to remember the importance of inspiring and educating the next generation and prioritize teaching over academic success. Please don’t bash with your comments. We are already sad and tired.

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