Teacher burnout is a significant problem that strike even the very best of teachers. Even the most passionate and dedicated of teachers struggle to see out a term out without getting sick or feeling extremely fatigued.
The question is, how do we address this problem?
Research shows the teaching profession has the highest burnout rate of any public service job. What can we do to keep the best and the brightest teachers in the classroom?
In April, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the American Institutes for Research (AIR) released the report, “Workplaces That Support High-Performing Teaching and Learning: Insights From Generation Y Teachers.”Gen Y teachers—that is, those under 30 years of age—account for at least one in five teachers in US classrooms today. They start out intending to make teaching a lifelong profession. However, according to the report, young teachers leave the profession at a rate 51 percent higher than older teachers and transfer to a different school at a rate 91 percent higher than their older colleagues. Studies also show that the national teacher-turnover rate costs school districts approximately $7 billion annually.
In the AFT/AIR report, young teachers say they want:
- Feedback on their performance and to be evaluated in a fair way
- Time to collaborate with their colleagues
- Differentiated pay for high performance
- Technology to provide engaging and effective lessons, as well as to support collaboration with other teachers through, for instance, videos and conferencing technology.
I agree with every point, but have a problem with the third one. Whilst I believe Governments should look into a differentiated model of pay for high performers, I don’t believe such an initiative would have any bearing on cases of teacher burnout.
The list of proposed changes by young teachers above is most fair and reasonable. If responded to, the outcomes could be quite positive all around. It’s certainly time to better address teacher burnout. It’s an issue that cannot be dismissed and will not go away.
Tags: AFT, AIR, American Federation of Teachers, American Institutes for Research, and Effectiveness, Burnout, Education, Generation Y, life, National Education Association, Retention, Susan Moore Johnson, Teacher, Teacher Evaluations, Teacher Welfare, teacher-turnover, Teachers, Teaching, technology, The Workplace Matters—Teacher Quality, Workplaces That Support High-Performing Teaching and Learning
Topical Teaching 
November 5, 2011 at 3:56 am |
I did 33 years and heart attacks 2006 got out. I just could not do it any more anyway. Minority high schools and big city problems just drained me. Had great rep with kids but …..