Understanding Ethics of Care

Abstract

This chapter explores compassion and ethics of care by investigating the main challenge Swedish teachers at all levels encounter. High levels of stress occur when Swedish teachers are expected to support the growing number of students with mental health challenges. According to Socialstyrelsen (Utvecklingen av Psykisk Ohälsa bland Barn och Unga Vuxna, 2016) approximately 10% of Swedish children under 18 suffer from some form of mental health disorder. Through their training, many Swedish classrooms are not provided the necessary skills to care for students with mental health disorders and it is one reason why many teachers experience stress and are leaving the profession. The realities of stress and high burnout rates among classroom teaching staff, the continuous government reforms and lack of support together with a lack of student health and welfare support staff in Sweden are indicative of a school system under stress. This chapter therefore offers an alternative response to supporting teachers during a sense of stress through compassion and ethics of care. Such an approach, it will be argued, can be a way to alleviate and support self-care while supporting students in their wellbeing.