Burning out?

              Teacher burnout is an often overlooked topic in teacher preparation and advancement programs.  In fact, after 4 years of undergraduate work, 2 years earning a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, 3 internships, and 3 years of post graduate work, THIS is the first time that teacher burnout has come up as a discussion focus in an academic setting for me.  While teacher burnout is a relatively large problem, it is interesting how easily we overlook it.  I enjoyed reading Nan Nassef’s personal narrative on teacher burnout and felt connections to many of the points that she made.

                I think the rate of teacher burnout is affected greatly by the level of support that the teacher has.  This may be support at home and support from friends or loved ones, but most importantly the level of support the teacher has at school.  No matter what children a teacher works with (and let’s face it, some students bring about burnouts more than others) if I teacher has support and outlets to deal with the daily stresses of teaching than they might make it without burning out.  For example, the school I currently teach in is tremendously supportive from the administration, to the parents, to the fellow teachers.  There are many teachers working here that have been here 20-30 years!  On the other hand, my first internship was in a school in Boston which was considered “failing” and had virtually no support.  Teachers left there all the time, even in the middle of the school year.  Other teachers who felt they had to stay took out their stresses on the kids. 

                What can we really do to help avoid burnouts?  I agree that sometimes meeting up for a drink with colleagues to get your complaints out or even talk about life outside of school can be VERY therapeutic.  I also think that, whenever possible, you should try to leave school issues at school and spend time outside of school doing other activities.  You need to try to be balanced.  It is impossible to stay emotionally separated from the kids and your class, but you have to learn what is within your control and what is out.  Take the time to make emotional connections with children and colleagues, but don’t make it your entire focus.  I hope that by following these guidelines and staying in a wonderfully supportive school I will be able to avoid a burnout!

Nassef, N.A. (2009). I shouldn’t be telling you this – a story of teacher burnout and attrition.

13 Educational Insights,(4).Retrieved from: http://www.ccfi.educ.ubc.ca/publication/insights/v13n04/articles/nassef/index.html