ABSTRACT
The crisis of care in capitalist societies stems from the exploitation of emotional labour, particularly in education, where caring work is undervalued despite its role in social and economic reproduction. This caregiving crisis has led to rising burnout, emotional stress and difficulties in retaining educators in Australia. This chapter examines the contradictions of care faced by teachers and school leaders in increasingly marketised and autonomous education systems. Through two contrasting school cases, the chapter highlights the impact of performance pressures on care practices. In the first case, care was reframed by the school leadership as a moral imperative tied to student performance, leading to a culture of ‘care-lessness' towards teaching staff, resulting in stress, mental health issues and high turnover. In contrast, the second case features a principal who rejected this instrumentalist approach, emphasising ethical, caring relationships between teachers and students. This case illustrates the potential for resistance against performative demands, shifting focus from individual responsibility to a collective, relational approach to care for others.
