Is being a teacher stressful?

Answer 1

Yes it can be very stressful! Not to disillsion private who seems to think its a cushy job, yes we do have lots of holidays. BUT....in those holidays we do a lot of planning and preparation. Most teachers I know also attend training and development during some of that time.
If we are lucky we get a 20 minute lunch break which we usually spend tracking down children who have either not gotten lunch or need to finish work.
During report writing time, myriads of teachers stay up past midnight writng and polishing reports. No overtime.
We joyfully attend school camps....supervise children 24/7 even in our sleep...no overtime.
My car got its window smashed by a disgruntled student...in so called secure parking.
Then we are faced with demanding parents, sometimes unreasonably so, an ever changing and demanding curriculum with the added bureaucracy, students with intense family problems, and countless more problems.
Having said that, teaching is one of the most rewarding jobs you could ever find. Seeing students take on board something you have taught them, and use it productively is one of the greatest things you can ever experience. I would never do anything else.

Answer 2

As a teacher I can personally tell you I have a few more grey hairs each year from my profession! Lol! Working with kids is great but extremely challenging, and the craziness of the ed reform movement hasn't helped make educators lives (or the students) any better. I turn to 180dayz comics on education and teaching to help keep me going when I'm feeling super stressed and need a good laugh.

Answer 3

Absolutely! But what job isn't? Your stress levels vary too depending on so many factors--students, parents, administration, coworkers, lesson plans, grades, professional development, etc. The biggest stress is having to defend the profession to people who think that it's a walk in the park. I have had panic attacks and stress-caused muscles spasms because of teaching. Not to mention everytime a 'bug' goes around the school, teachers manage to get it too. Taking a day off of work is not easy either, because you have to do lesson plans for a substitute who might be a retired teacher that follows your plans to a T or a substitute who might be someone thinking it's glorified babysitting and won't even look at the plans that you spent time creating. My free time is not my own because my kids and their homelife is always on my mind. Test scores are always on my mind. And these stresses vary from year to year depending on the class that has been assigned to you.

I wouldn't give my job up for the world, though. It makes me a better, stronger person each year and there is so much to learn from the job stresses.

Answer 4

My wife and I are both teachers. We can tell you that a great percentage of teachers are on some kind of anti-depressant. I know 5 teachers myself that take them because of nerve problems.

The stress doesn't strictly come from the kids and the parents (which is worse, I don't know). This No Child Left Behind crap adds much stress. If you add all this pressure on the teachers, telling them that they may lose their jobs if their kids can't do well on standardized tests, then teachers are going to be quitting.

Answer 5

YES
I'm the brother of an Elementary teacher and have had too many conversations with her .
Not only are there the day to day hassles with the kids ( of any age) but imagine EVERYONE wanting to evaluate your performance based on the performance of your students (test scores). Sounds easy huh, what about the kids who have morons for parents and the kids don't have a genetic chance of good scores. What about those students whose parents are crack-heads...... Too much of what is wanted from a teacher, by us all, is beyond their control. The best efforts of a great teacher can be undone as soon as that student leaves the building.

I've never been a teacher but I was involved with the youth athletics as my son grew up so I do want to add..
When you do finally break through to a kid and you can see the light bulb go on in his head... it is truly a wonderous thing.
I have been blessed with an extended family of many young men
because I took the time . Somehow it does seem like it was all worth it, but it was stressful.

Answer 6

I am not a teacher, but as a mother of a 1st grader.
I can see being a teacher is a stressful job.
I volunteer in the class to help out.

The first 2 hours spent on reading with no break for the kids at all and that includes the teacher to
I see the 30min. lunch to suck down their food and yes they have to keep eyes on their class at lunch. Back to class to teach 21 kids to read and write, science, math and history,
A 15min break in the afternoon.
Grading papers to send home, planing next days work next weeks work....extra help for ones that need it
Not to count the parents that don't care or except the teacher to raise their child.
They do have a home life (and that is very little)
Private you must not have kids or are one of those parents that expect the teacher to raise your kid
Not to meantion being underpaid And not thanked for the job they do

THANK'S TO ALL YOU GOOD TEACHERS

Answer 7

Yes it can be - some people like a certain amount of stress in their lives, they feel its part of their driving force- meeting deadlines, coping with wayward children -awkward parents teaching is more than a job its a vocation! You are either going to take to naturally and cope with the stressful times and balance the good against the bad !or just decide its not for you .
Having a good support network within the school is vital -some one you can let off steam to and understands the situations you can face!

Answer 8

Volunteer at a school, become a teachers aid or just become a teacher! Thats the only way you will ever find out! Every teacher will have a different answer b/c everyone teaches their classes different and manages their time in dif ways. So, find out for yourself, it could be easy or it could be horrible! Good luck! <3

Answer 9

Yes. Taught for 30years in secondary education and retired at 52years old. Stress is due to unacceptable behavior of an increasing number of anti social children. The behavior of many secondary children is unacceptable. The problem is always directed to poor teaching but the problem really lies with society allowing bad behavior to infiltrate many schools. If you are considering entering teaching and now unable to change route then avoid working in urban areas, especially secondary schools, where stress is overt.

Answer 10

It can be stressful and its hard but id say on a good day its the best job in the world . I love it and wouldnt do anything else i just wish sometimes i could switch off better from it but i love it. As for the bad days had plenty of them and yep someone is always on your case about something but thats the nature of the job!