Teaching is a stressful occupation
Everyone knows that teaching is one of the most stressful jobs there is. In fact, according to a lot of research and studies it’s actually the single most stressful job there is.
80% of teachers report being severely stressed at work and we’re constantly hearing about teachers who get so stressed that they end up having to quit their jobs – or that they end up having mental breakdowns.
But what is it about teaching that makes it such a stressful occupation? After all, in many ways you might be forgiven for thinking that teacher stress would be uncommon.
80% of teachers report being severely stressed at work and we’re constantly hearing about teachers who get so stressed that they end up having to quit their jobs – or that they end up having mental breakdowns.
But what is it about teaching that makes it such a stressful occupation? After all, in many ways you might be forgiven for thinking that teacher stress would be uncommon.
Causes of teacher stress
There are some obvious causes of teacher stress. Perhaps the most glaring is that a lot of children are misbehaved. These days it’s common for a single teacher to be in charge of a class of 25 to 30 pupils, many of whom might be climbing on the chairs, throwing things, crying and generally being ‘challenging’.
This right away creates a lot of stress as you have to constantly move from one crisis to another while at the same time being aware of what’s going on in the corner of the room – this can get very tiring.
Challenging Classrooms
Moreover, some children are purposefully malicious. A mean child (or ‘misunderstood’ let’s say) may well have a knack for sensing when a teacher is getting towards the end of their tether and for knowing precisely what they have to say or do to push them over the edge.
Social Stress
Teacher stress is also caused partly by simple social stress. Social stress is any stress that emerges from having to spend time with lots of people..
Performance
Another aspect of teaching that makes it stressful is the fact that you have to stand up and ‘perform’. It’s easy for an outsider to overlook this aspect of teaching as it’s ‘only children’ but bearing in mind what a tough crowd children are (as we’ve just seen) this is a misguided view of the situation.
Scrutiny
Perhaps rightly so, teaching is one of the professions that is most closely scrutinized. There’s no boss breathing over a teacher’s shoulder but that doesn’t mean that they won’t feel stress from parents, from regular inspections and from headmasters and deputies.
Work Hours
Another aspect of teaching is the sheer amount of work involved in marking papers and homework.
This right away creates a lot of stress as you have to constantly move from one crisis to another while at the same time being aware of what’s going on in the corner of the room – this can get very tiring.
Challenging Classrooms
Moreover, some children are purposefully malicious. A mean child (or ‘misunderstood’ let’s say) may well have a knack for sensing when a teacher is getting towards the end of their tether and for knowing precisely what they have to say or do to push them over the edge.
Social Stress
Teacher stress is also caused partly by simple social stress. Social stress is any stress that emerges from having to spend time with lots of people..
Performance
Another aspect of teaching that makes it stressful is the fact that you have to stand up and ‘perform’. It’s easy for an outsider to overlook this aspect of teaching as it’s ‘only children’ but bearing in mind what a tough crowd children are (as we’ve just seen) this is a misguided view of the situation.
Scrutiny
Perhaps rightly so, teaching is one of the professions that is most closely scrutinized. There’s no boss breathing over a teacher’s shoulder but that doesn’t mean that they won’t feel stress from parents, from regular inspections and from headmasters and deputies.
Work Hours
Another aspect of teaching is the sheer amount of work involved in marking papers and homework.
Teacher support library - available from our bookstore
A library of resources to guide teachers and their supporters is available from Monash Education and Training.
Enquiries to [email protected]
The Teacher Support Library Cd contains:
Enquiries to [email protected]
The Teacher Support Library Cd contains:
- Calm Teacher
- Calming upset parents
- Calming meditations for teachers
- Teacher reflection
- Character strengths
- Emotional literacy
- Managing teachers
- Mindfulness workbook
- Relaxation workbook
- Stress Workbook
- Resilience enables you
- Strong women are role models
- Stress busting
- What I love about teaching
- What undermines resilience
- Workplace bullying
