Question: One of my colleagues had to take a leave of absence because of stress related issues. Basically, she burned out. I am a new teacher and I don’t want the same thing to happen to me. How does teacher burnout effect the education system, and how can we ameliorate it? Dwayne J
Answer: Dwayne, as you know, teachers have strong commitments to their work. Most of them feel passionately about teaching, and see it as a “calling.” The emotions that teachers undergo include love for (most) students, hate for the paperwork, the feeling of excitement when they see a student finally understand a concept, etc. Then there’s the dread of filling out report cards, the feeling of burn-out in December, and the nervous feeling associated with the first day of school every year. These emotions affect teachers across the board, without regard to experience.
Burnout refers to extreme stress experienced by those who work in intense occupations, especially in offering services that are subject to chronic tension levels. It usually means the inability to function fully in one’s job due to the prolonged stress related to these jobs. Stress and burnout are linked closely to an individual’s state of mind. Burnout is three-dimensional and includes feelings of emotional exhaustion or tiredness; teacher “depersonalization,” in which they develop a negative and distrustful attitude towards their students, parents, and their colleagues; and a reduced sense of accomplishment and self-esteem.
It also brings about other negative effects, such as increased absenteeism, decline in classroom performance, and poor interpersonal relationships with colleagues and students. Burned-out teachers are usually less sympathetic toward the problems of students, and are less committed to their jobs. They develop lower tolerance for classroom disruptions, are less prepared for class, and are generally less productive. As a result, burned-out teachers can have a negative influence on the morale of new teachers.
Burned-out teachers are more narrow-minded about their practices, and resistant to changes in those practices. They resort to blaming others for low achievement or failure. If schools are to succeed at providing students with an effective, relevant education, teacher’s emotions must not be ignored. Teachers need to feel validated in their work so that they can continue educating our youth to the best of their ability.
FAQs
Burnout also affects how likely a teacher is to stay in their job (Billingsley & Bettini, 2019). This is because it can result in increased absenteeism, lower job commitment, and increased turnover intentions (Brouwers & Tomic, 2000). Consequently, burnout will have a multitude of effects for teachers themselves.
Do teachers recover from burnout? ›
Being burnt out doesn't have to be the end of your teaching career. With the right steps, you can recover and return to teaching with renewed passion. The key is taking steps to prevent stress from getting out of hand.
How do you counter a teacher burnout? ›
Cultivating mindfulness and stress-reduction techniques, such as meditation, yoga practices, and deep breathing exercises, can also provide invaluable tools for managing the demands of teaching. By prioritizing self-care, teachers protect themselves against burnout and chronic stress.
What is teacher burnout psychology today? ›
Before we faced the COVID pandemic, we already confronted a teacher burnout pandemic. Some 91 percent of teachers reported excessive workload and stress, 15 percent (20 percent in high-need communities) left their jobs every year, and teachers' job satisfaction was at an all-time low (our study, Rankin 2022).
What is the number one cause of teacher burnout? ›
Excessive workload and long working hours
Teachers often have a huge amount of material that needs to be covered and may feel overwhelmed by all of the tasks they need to do. Having to work long hours with no break can also lead to burnout, as it takes away valuable time for self-care.
Why is teacher burnout a problem? ›
Teachers who have reached a state of burnout can begin to feel mentally detached from their jobs. Their feelings about the profession can turn negative and cynical. Inefficacy. Teacher burnout also leads to feelings of incompetence or ineffectiveness.
Why do teachers quit after 5 years? ›
The #1 reason why teachers leave education is compensation. 48% of educators are planning on leaving the field due to compensation, while 42% have already left because of the same reason. Expectations are the second most common reason – 33% plan on leaving while 31% have left due to this reason.
How many years does burnout last? ›
Recovering from burnout is a personal process, and the timeline can vary widely from several weeks, months, or even years. The longer you've experienced burnout, the more time it could take to recover.
How do I return after burnout? ›
Not everyone can take time off from work. But making small adjustments to your everyday routine can alleviate stress in the long run. Building healthy habits like a morning walk, less caffeine, or a daily meditation can help you wind down and recover from burnout.
How do you get a bad teacher fired? ›
Present the evidence to the school board.
To terminate a teacher, usually one of the following must be proven: immoral conduct, incompetence, neglect of duty, substantial noncompliance with school laws, conviction of a crime, insubordination, fraud or misrepresentation.
The effects of teacher stress can be far-reaching. In the short term, it can lead to burnout, fatigue, and decreased job satisfaction. In the long term, it can lead to serious health problems, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and depression.
Is burnout a mental health issue? ›
Burnout is a condition specifically related to work. While its symptoms mimic those of depression and other mood disorders, burnout is not classified as a diagnosable mental health disorder.
What is burnout syndrome? ›
“Burn-out is a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. It is characterized by three dimensions: feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion; increased mental distance from one's job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one's job; and.
What does burnout feel like? ›
Burnout is a state of complete mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion. If you are experiencing burnout, you may notice it is difficult to engage in activities you normally find meaningful. You may no longer care about the things that are important to you or experience an increasing sense of hopelessness.
How does teacher burnout affect student achievement? ›
That is, students being taught by a teacher suffering from burnout tend to perform worse on exams, tests, and receive lower cumulative grades, than those taught by teachers not experiencing burnout. Moreover, these effects may be small-to-medium in size.
How much do teachers struggle with stress and burnout? ›
During the COVID-19 pandemic, survey results indicated that nearly 70% of respondents worried about their mental health and well-being [13]. Meanwhile, a cross-sectional study showed that two-thirds of teachers perceived stress at work at least 50% of the time [14].
