Teacher Burnout and the Great Resignation
Teacher Burnout: More like Teacher Exploitation
What is teacher burnout?
Teacher burnout is a psychological condition that leads to exhaustion, depersonalization, and decreased teacher achievement and self-worth due to the mounting pressures, responsibilities, and work, teachers are currently facing for the low-paying salary they have put up with for decades.
“Although often portrayed as the capacity for individual resilience, burnout can also be the result of unusually demanding school environments that lack appropriate organizational supports or limits.” - Doris Santoro and Olga Acosta Price
As a result… the profession is experiencing a “Great Resignation” and there are shortages across the nation that are extremely hard to fill.
Yet, the education system is evidently avoiding the extremely fast-approaching turnover cliff and has failed to do anything to prevent or alleviate the symptoms of teacher burnout.
What are the mounting pressures on teachers?
Forced to work overtime hours to plan instruction (before and after school) because planning time has shrunk as teachers are in high demand to fill in or cover additional tasks amid staffing shortages
Teachers are not just teachers. It is a multifaceted profession. They are: parents, friends, coaches, mathematicians, leaders, advocates, organizers, therapists, role models, planners, nurses, and caregivers.
Teach to the test- forced assessment, student results define us
No autonomy over their own classroom- policymakers and politicians are making decisions and laws on what we can and cannot teach, say, and do in our OWN classroom spaces
I think burnout also derives from the fact that we carry the trauma, the pain, the experiences, and the realities of our students' lives with us.
“Educators are holding on by strings. Something has to give” -MCEA Vice President Nikki Woodward
This website does a great job breaking down the root cause of teacher burnout rather than simply defining what it is.
Teacher Shortages and Salaries:
Click here to read more about teacher salaries and why we have seen no change.
A MUST watch:
Teacher Stress: A Crisis Ignored | Lisa Sanetti | TEDxUConn
Teacher Burnout is NOT the right term: Teacher Exploitation
Interesting blog post-I really enjoyed reading it! Another thing that always struck me with teaching and salary amounts-especially in Fairfield County where housing prices are so high. Many teachers commute long distances because they can not afford to live in the district they teach in. If the salary amounts in the district do not allow teachers to live in that town - that's a real problem. Adding a long commute creates another level of stress and adds even more time to an already full day.
ReplyDeleteI agree with exactly what Dana said above. I loved ready this blog and LOVED all the aids that went with it but yes! Long commutes are no good for teachers. Maybe for new, younger teachers but eventually everyone has or will have a family that they want to get to (spouses, kids, parents, etc.) and when you throw a 45min or more commute at them then they will be getting home later and begin to become more and more tired as the school year goes on with conferences and faculty meetings. The more we get burned out the more we will use sick days, vacation days, mental health days, etc. and most administrators hate that. One major point that has always stuck out to many has been the fact that teachers are under paid.
ReplyDeleteSuch important content right here... this is not something people realize that this comes with the job. One thing that really resonated with me was "I think burnout also derives from the fact that we carry the trauma, the pain, the experiences, and the realities of our students' lives with us. " I personally connect with this. I work in a district where a lot of my students have trauma, new and old. My kids come to school some days and tell me, "my cousin was the one who got shot in front of the 'Greens' yesterday." Or "I couldn't get this done because my mom works the night shift and sleeps during the day." I can't imagine dealing with death so frequently or not having a parent around to guide the young mind of a student.
ReplyDeleteAnd I really love the differentiation of Exploitation and Burnout. I do always feel there is this looming, unspoken conversation that if we don't do what our administration asks us that they hold it over our heads. Not fair... but we know this profession isn't.
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ReplyDeleteThis is such an interesting and important topic. It makes me think of the reaction people have when I tell them I was going into teaching. It is always a look of surprise and then they often mention pay, asking me if I know that teacher's don't get paid very much and questioning why I'd want to be a teacher because of it. It's unfortunate that these experiences are what I think of when I first read your post. Like you say, many teachers don't think their salary is sustainable and like Dana mentioned above, many teachers have to commute long distances because they can't afford to live closer. It things like this that add additional stresses onto teachers, people who are already being pulled in every direction. I also agree with Christine in that I like the differentiation you make between exploutation and burnout. Like you said, teachers are being asked to do so many things outside of actually teaching students that provide even more stressors. I've seen these stressors in my mom (who is a kindergarten teacher) and teachers I worked with last year. The math teacher on my team last year and I had a conversation where she felt like the kids hated her and, she honestly hated the kids at some points, because of the amounting stress of having to not only teach them math but also be a counselor and a field trip planner and so many other things. Like Christine said above... not fair.
ReplyDeleteThere is so much being said about teachers burning out and we see teachers leaving more and more. At what point does it change? It's crazy to see so many teachers being exploited day in and day out with the amount of things they are asked to do. There isn't enough time in the day to accomplish all the tasks that need to get done! Not to mention all of that stress and extra hours for what, a measly salary that isn't enough to sustain teachers outside of school? This blog points out key information like teachers needing to work extra jobs and salaries not being sufficient enough. These are some key components when deciding what you want as a career, if we keep seeing these patterns, chances are we are going to see less and less teachers.
ReplyDeleteI have always heard that a large amount of teachers quit within their first 5 years of teaching. With everything you mentioned, it is not hard to believe that. I thought the point about teacher burnout vs teacher exploitation was particularly interesting. Especially in post-covid times, I think all these things have only been heightened. For example, lack of staff is a major issue across the country right now. Additionally, I think that there are also unrealistic expectations. After going virtual and spending two years with digital learning, students are not at the same place they were prior to the pandemic. There was definitely a learning loss and it is hard to hold them to the "normal" expectations of their age/grade. Teachers who have been in the profession for several years are seeing new behaviors and have to adjust their teaching to best fit the needs of these students
ReplyDeleteAs I commented in a previous blog post, I am currently teaching two extra classes because we have lost so many teachers in my district. It is really sad to see so many colleagues leave due to burn out, lack of respect, from parents, students and administrators; and lack of appropriate compensation for the job that we do. I am experiencing it first hand. I have many of those symptoms. I often want to just stay in bed and am not motivated to get up and go to work. I am constantly stressed and the thoughts of what I need to do and what I'm not getting done are on a constant loop in my head. Teachers are expected to do more and more each year, with little time to do it all. In Special Education specifically, with the size of our caseload we need to manage on top of teaching classes, preparing for PPT's and data collection for goals, it is impossible to do it all with fidelity. We are set up to fail, and then we take the heat when that happens. There is no support from administration at all which is truly frustrating. I really liked the Modern Teacher cartoon. I can relate to it on so many levels, and it demonstrates how I feel, and I'm sure most teacher feel on any given day. So sad, and I can only hope that someone hears our collective cries and starts to make some changes. I will remain hopeful that things will change. If this mass exodus hasn't opened peoples eyes, I'm not sure what else will.
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