The Real Reason Teachers are Burned Out

Teachers experience burnout for various reasons, many of which can be related to their interactions with families and the administration of the school.  In all honesty - teacher burnout and frustration isn't the teaching part of the job...it's the other stuff out of their control. 

Some real reasons for teacher burnout include:

1. Heavy Workload: Teachers often face overwhelming workloads due to large class sizes, extensive lesson planning, grading, and administrative tasks. Typically - teachers don't really mind all of this stuff...that's what teachers DO.  But, when teachers are stretched thin, not getting support, having behavior or parent challenges... they may struggle to maintain a healthy work-life balance, leading to burnout. They don't want to take work home, and they shouldn't have to.

2. Lack of Support: Teachers may feel unsupported by their school administration or colleagues, especially when dealing with challenging students or difficult situations in the classroom. Without adequate support systems in place, teachers can become disheartened and overwhelmed. How can this be fixed? Admin shouldn't just send kids back in after a three minute "break" with a piece of candy.  Administrators need to be the ones to call home, dish out consequences, monitor hallway transitions, do car duty, and all that fun stuff.  There should be black and white matrix of behaviors and next steps - and who handles what in what time frame.

3. Behavior Management Issues: Disruptive behavior from students can significantly impact a teacher's ability to effectively teach and maintain a positive classroom environment. Teachers may feel frustrated and exhausted from constantly managing behavioral issues, especially if they lack support from parents in addressing these concerns. We used to have whole family consequences when I was younger...I wrote on the bathroom wall in 5th grade.  Of course my best friend told on me.  Next steps? My whole family had to clean the school that weekend...including my brother.  I can tell you - I never graffitied again.

4. Unrealistic Expectations: Teachers may face unrealistic expectations from parents, administrators, or standardized testing requirements. Pressure to meet academic benchmarks or cater to individual student needs without sufficient resources or support can contribute to feelings of burnout. Teaching to the test, raises based on standardized testing outcomes, and parents expecting teachers to parent (teach how to tie shoes, eat at a table, be nice, do their homework, get to school on time...) is too much. 

5. Lack of Parental Involvement: Limited parental involvement can exacerbate challenges in the classroom, as teachers may struggle to engage students who lack support and reinforcement at home. Teachers may also feel frustrated by a lack of communication or collaboration with parents, making it difficult to address student needs effectively. Teachers love it when parents blame the teacher for a student's bad grades.  Teachers love it when parents want to know how they can get their student's grades up to passing...how about you don't take them out of school a week before the quarter ends - for Disneyland? Here's another example: 4:15, parent calls to the classroom..."Have you seen my kid's coat?"  Teacher, "No.  I'm just about to leave for the day.  I can look tomorrow."  Parent, "Weeellll, we would really like to swing by if now if you can go look for it."  Teacher, "Sure.  Is his name on it somewhere with tape or something?"  Parent, "No.  I just haven't had time (or I don't like to put names on things in case we want to sell it on eBay later on...). Thanks for going around to find it."  Teacher, "Sure.  I don't mind at all."  But it's not just that - it's the constant blame game of a child's choices on the teacher.  It's the end of year irate calls to school from a parent who has never showed up to ONE parent / teacher conference.  It's the treatment by parents that teachers are babysitters and low on the pay scale that transfers to student attitudes.

Overall, teacher burnout is often intertwined with family dynamics and interactions. When teachers receive support from families, whether through active involvement, communication, or reinforcement of classroom expectations, they are better equipped to manage the demands of teaching and maintain their well-being. Conversely, a lack of support or collaboration from families can contribute to feelings of frustration and burnout among teachers. Therefore, fostering positive relationships and partnerships between teachers and families is crucial for creating a supportive and conducive learning environment for students. We can do better!