Teaching Is Ruining My Health
I wasnt surprised at his advice, but it solidified what I already knew to be true being a teacher was ruining my health. My high blood pressure scares came just a few months after my anxiety disorder diagnosis. In my less generous moments I feel like I opened my heart to my community and have been hollowed out.
I have my accolades, and a thick file folder full of student letters and gifts, but I also have some serious damage to work through in weekly therapy sessions and a prescription to antidepressants. A Tes survey of more than 4,000 teachers confirms what many in education have long suspected: teaching is bad for you. Some 97 per cent of respondents to the survey said that the job impacted negatively on their wellbeing, causing them stress and anxiety.
Mahala Kuehne taught middle school science for five years before leaving to work at a nonprofit. She says large classes, low pay, long hours, and safety concerns during the pandemic contributed to... Teaching has always been one of the most rewarding professions, but its also one of the toughest.
And its getting worse. A November study by the mental health charity Education Support found... Teaching is a demanding job and research suggests that prolonged exposure to stress can affect physical health.
While some studies have found that teachers do indeed report relatively poor physical health, the existing literature has important methodological limitations. Leaving the field of teaching does not make you a bad person, but remaining in a profession that is constantly zapping your energy while you are constantly pouring yourself out will eventually destroy your physical, emotional, and mental health. Many teachers these days are facing overstuffed workloads and packed diaries, giving them little time to complete tasks and take well-deserved breaks.
This pressure, as well as the pressure of being frequently reviewed, can often lead to a decline in teachers mental health. As he walked out of the classroom, he added: Youre an excellent teacher, Miss. Yet teaching has blighted my life.
It has ripped out my soul, eaten me up and spat me back out. I'm the breadwinner, and we depend on my salary and benefits. Every time I think about seeking more education in something else, I realize that I can't continue to teach AND go to school...from a time and energy standpoint, it's just not practical.
