When my partner, Alex, decided to pursue a career as a high school English teacher, he was well aware of the challenges ahead. Coming from a family of educators, he knew teaching wasn’t a walk in the park. He imagined it would be a fulfilling experience, a chance to channel his passion for learning and inspire students to express their ideas. Perhaps he’d even get a few teens to memorize Shakespeare or pen their own sonnets.
As relatively new parents, we thought teaching would provide Alex with a good work-life balance, especially since he’s an incredibly involved dad. He fondly remembered his own father coming home by the afternoon, filled with quality time for family. We didn’t expect to be rolling in dough, but we figured he could earn a decent living with steady raises and benefits without drowning in work stress.
After a challenging job search, he landed a position at a great school with supportive colleagues who genuinely care for one another. While the teenagers he teaches may not always share his enthusiasm for literature, they’re good kids who value what he brings to the classroom. However, the reality of being a teacher was a far cry from his expectations.
Although students are only in school for six hours a day, Alex often works 10 to 12 hours daily. He rises at 5 a.m. to grade papers and prepare lessons, teaching a full schedule with barely enough prep time to breathe, let alone eat lunch. After school, he’s caught up in mandatory meetings, professional development, and after-hours phone calls to students’ homes. Often, he stays late just to finish grading and planning lessons.
By the time he gets home around 5 or 6 p.m., he’s exhausted. Though he loves our two sons, he finds himself drained and struggling to cope with the evening chaos. It turns out he’s not alone. Across the United States, teachers are clocking in more hours than their international counterparts, leaving them little time to manage the essential tasks of teaching during the day. Instead, they’re burdened with an avalanche of paperwork and grading late into the night, and no, most districts don’t pay overtime for this extra effort.
This overload leads to significant stress. A Gallup Poll from 2014 revealed that half of all teachers reported high levels of stress, which is more than our nation’s doctors! Additionally, 70% of teachers feel disengaged from their work, raising concerns about how this impacts the students they serve.
Most educators, including Alex, aren’t frustrated with their students; rather, they’re disillusioned with the system. A survey by The Washington Post found that much of teachers’ stress comes from constantly adapting to new initiatives like the Common Core State Standards without adequate training. It’s tough enough to keep up with grading and lesson plans without the added pressure of teaching to the test.
Most teachers reported that their stress and dissatisfaction peaked in the last few years, coinciding with the onset of these initiatives. Sadly, that’s when Alex began his teaching journey. He’s too invested to quit now, but the burnout is real, and he’s not the only one feeling the heat.
So, what can we do? It’s essential to elect officials who genuinely care about educators—those who will advocate for better contracts, fair pay, and the reversal of unnecessary initiatives that plague teachers and their students. And let’s not forget to express gratitude toward our kids’ teachers—not just during holidays or at the end of the year. A simple acknowledgment of their hard work can significantly boost their morale and create a positive school environment.
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Summary
Teachers like Alex face overwhelming stress due to excessive workloads, inadequate training, and constant changes in educational initiatives. This situation leads to burnout and disengagement, impacting both educators and their students. It’s crucial to support teachers through better policies and to acknowledge their hard work regularly.