| Teachers don't seem to command the respect that | | | | emphasis on dealing with children with these disorders |
| they used to 30 years ago. It seems that society, and | | | | at school it seems that an important strategy to relieve |
| kids in particular, don't appreciate how important their | | | | teacher stress is to have a responsive and informed |
| role is in giving children the skills to be successful in | | | | support structure for teachers. |
| adulthood. Not so long ago teachers would be | | | | Most teachers are specialised in a particular field, |
| addressed and 'ma'am' or 'sir' by their students but | | | | mathematics, for example, and, whilst it is incumbent in |
| now are just as likely to be sworn at. There have | | | | their job description to develop skills in human |
| been high profile stories of teachers being assaulted, | | | | psychology, it should not detract from their primary field |
| raped and stabbed. Teaching has become a stressful | | | | of expertise. Consequently, it is important that schools |
| job. This article will analyse why teaching has become | | | | have support networks that are skilled in human |
| so stressful and some strategies to manage stress | | | | psychology and behavioural problems. |
| and teacher burnout. | | | | There should also be a strong ethic throughout the |
| The number one reason why teaching has become | | | | school, from principal to students, that the behavioural |
| more stressful is the kids. Controlling a large group of | | | | support network should and can be used for help and |
| excitable youngsters has never been easy, so why is | | | | relief of problems. Teachers should be given seminars |
| it more so today than it seemed to be ? | | | | and instruction on the latest strategies for dealing with |
| It seems that teachers are far more responsible for | | | | behavioural problems so that they remain informed |
| understanding and dealing with the psychological | | | | and in control of their classrooms. |
| problems that their students bring into the classroom | | | | Other problems that can lead to teacher stress are a |
| than ever before. | | | | lack of adequate administration and organisation in the |
| One example is dealing with children that have ADD | | | | school. This requires a strong principal with a strong |
| (attention deficit disorder). Quite often one child with | | | | vision of how the school should be run. A run on from |
| ADD can disrupt the class to the extent that the | | | | this would be a lack of adequate supplies. Teachers |
| teacher cannot teach. This leads to increased stress | | | | that lack board erasers, markers or anything that |
| on two levels. Firstly, the teacher feels they are failing | | | | effects their ability to do the job will suffer from |
| in their duty to teach and, secondly, the class loses | | | | increased stress levels. |
| focus and becomes unmanageable. | | | | Most teachers enjoy teaching and get great |
| ADD is well recognised by teachers nowadays and | | | | satisfaction from seeing their students improve over |
| they have more strategies to deal with the situation | | | | time. This, in fact, is good for their stress level. When |
| than before but these strategies have only been | | | | they are stopped from teaching, by reasons that they |
| learned through trial and error and much stress. With | | | | are not always qualified to deal with, then their |
| new conditions being diagnosed all the time and more | | | | frustration and stress levels increase. |