What causes teacher burn out?

Question

I have seen several fellow teachers burn out and retire. I believe it is the negative atmosphere we all perpetuate with constant complaining and feeding off each other. I am seeing it on this board with people who just seem to push the blame for their lack of enthusiasm and competence. Remember, where there is smoke, there is fire. If you get non-stop complaints and ridicule from all sides, maybe it is time for you to look at yourself.

I was one of them. Then I stopped hanging out with teachers, focusing on my classroom and goals, and controlling what I can and trying to get control of what I couldn't. Now, I am happy, stress free, home by 4-5 every day and never work on weekends and my kids are higher than any class in the school and higher than the "snotty" other schools.

Answer 1

Great question/statement.

Burn out sometimes comes because we're in a bad place--working in a toxic environment. But more often it comes because, as you said, we make it a negative place. I think it is very easy to fall into the trap of getting angry and frustrated by the shortcomings of other people. It is unlikely you can have much impact on them but you can stop feeling abused by them if you just focus on your own work and your own attitudes.

My best colleagues and I have instituted a rule. Short time limits for complaining. Work related topics are not allowed at social gatherings, which includes lunch! And if a subject does need to be addressed, we set a specific meeting time to deal with it so it doesn't take over other interactions and make a whole conversation negative.

Easier said than done much of the time, and I'm as guilty as the rest. . . . .

Answer 2

I burnt out quick! I have only been teaching for 5 years and after year 3 I was figuring out when I would retire!!

In my case, when I was the newbie, I was asked and expected to take on any job given to me. I was asked to be the head coach of our middle school girls basketball teams and head coach the high school softball team. Not only was I coaching something during every season, I was working on my Master's degree.

So a typical day for me began at 6:00 am. I would get ready for work, work all day until the bell rang at 3:00. Go to practice (softball or basketball) until 4:30. My assistants would have to take over because I would have to leave to drive an hour and a half to night class. Sit in night class from 6:00 - 9:00 pm and drive back home making it 11:00 pm or so. Remember that my morning starts at 6:00 am...still I had to grade papers, plan lessons, do homework, etc. The evenings I did not have class I would have ball games. Still 11:00 pm or so getting home.

So, I survived. But now it is the negative teachers I work with. If they hate it that much...find another job! I fall into the trap and complain too. But if we have a positive attitude, the day seems to go so much smoother. Students feed off of the teachers "mood".

Answer 3

Way too much paperwork and responsibility and not enough time. The stress is incredible. No time to discuss new ideas about teaching with colleagues; in fact, no time period. I just retired, and my blood pressure dropped 20 points and stayed down.

The worst stress is the administration asking for information that is next to impossible to write about in the time allotted, and forget about time to research or talk to teachers with years of experience. I never feel that I have worked enough on my class presentations when I have to write a paper on all my goals, including personal or other sorts of administrative questions. I would much prefer to prep well. Thus, I retired, too.

There are great students in my classes, but lots more are undisciplined and irresponsible. Thus I am not able to work with the good students as my time is taken up by students who are not interested and do not care. It makes it difficult to keep a optimistic attitude.

Answer 4

This is a very interesting comment. I am a floating teacher and I really wish I had my own classroom to escape in. The times when I am surrounded by complaining teachers, I have no where to escape. I think you are right... negativity does affect you and it is better to stay away from it.

Answer 5

because we all forget that we were kids to so instead of finding fun way to learn new things we stick to opening up a book and there it is all your plans laid out no imagination add

you need to make work fun and the kids will enjoy learning from you and you will make an impression in their lives for years to come

Answer 6

I've experienced this first hand, it's because kid are so spoiled sometimes and they never want to learn. If they don't get something they want, I swear they bi*ch and bi*tch about it until some solution comes up. They never want to listen and alost always have no heart to want to learn anything!

Answer 7

piss em off