Due to a recent increase of violent incidents across the country – friendly reminder to take the Violence and Harassment in Schools survey – CUPE476 is recommending that members keep journals to track their day-to-day experiences on the job.
Keeping a journal is a great way to act with more intention in your role, noting the efficacy of your interventions, tracking the progress of your students, and having a record of successes. In addition it can prove useful if you are injured or experience a violent incident to prove that you followed procedures.
How to keep a work journal:
- Update daily, weekly, or as needed.
- Doesn’t need to be exhaustive, just the important parts.
- Record incidents, near misses, conversations with superiors or parents.
- Keep track of interventions and methods used, and their efficacy.
- Keep track of student interactions and progress.
- Include time and place + Important details.
- Use a book, phone app, or document file.
- Do not use a document on employer-owned server. This is your personal record.
Whatever form your journal takes, keep it professional:
- Instead of using full names, use initials only.
- Don’t let students see you writing about them.
- Keeping a journal doesn’t replace official reporting:
- Fill out the appropriate WorkSafe forms to report an injury or near miss.
- Fill out the appropriate qathet School District forms if you experience violence, bullying or harassment.
- Contact the Union if you feel as though your concerns have not been taken seriously, or you are asked to do something you aren’t comfortable with.
