Teaching With The Heart: Navigating The Tension Between Professional Ideals And Structural Constraints
Auteurs : Berghout El Hadj .
Résumé
In this article, we examine the critical issue of teacher affective engagement within contemporary professional practice. While our analysis of pedagogical research confirms the vital role of relational and emotional dimensions in learning, we argue that there is a profound disconnect between theoretical ideals and the practical reality of the classroom. We begin by defining the theoretical foundations of what we term "teaching with the heart," structured around four essential pillars: pedagogical empathy, educational benevolence, active listening, and patience. We then explore the motivational drivers of the profession and the decisive role of well-being, highlighting how emotional dissonance and burnout can undermine a teacher's capacity for engagement. Finally, we analyze the structural constraints that condition this affective involvement, such as overcrowded classes, contradictory institutional mandates, and the increasing blurring of boundaries between professional and private life. We conclude that for teacher affective involvement to be a sustainable reality rather than a guilt-inducing ideal, a fundamental shift in working conditions is required. We advocate for a significant reduction in class sizes and a formal institutional recognition of the "invisible emotional labor" performed by teachers daily.
Mots clés
Teacher affective engagement ; Pedagogical relationship ; Emotional labor ; Professional well-being ; Structural constraints
