Here's Why Teachers Quit

Back in 2007, we titled a post at our companion blog Teacher Leadership Today this way: "Why Do Teachers Quit?" Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised that over the intervening 3 1/2 years, a number of teachers have found their way to that post and added a comment. The most recent appeared just this week. It comes from a young teacher in Louisiana and is worth highlighting, because it may offer an answer. It certainly expresses the frustration many feel.

I am a young, motivated third-year third grade teacher. I have moved schools, moved grade levels, and had my first child in the last three years. I have also survived a district-wide reduction in force. My mother is a former classroom teacher and currect administrator, so I knew what I was getting into. However, I am starting to realize that eventually we get burned out.

In my opinion, it isn't the teaching part that is exhausting. Teaching is the most enjoyable part of my day. Surprisingly, I also enjoy analyzing data and using it to create effective lesson plans. I think it is exciting and challenging to develop ways to close the gap of educational deficits of my students.  I am like many young teachers. We are not incompetent or unwilling. 

Despite my enthusiasm concerning instruction, I am burning out as well. It seems that I must continuously manage extra things for which there is simply no time. For example, tonight I'm consumed with a plethora of technology issues, an action plan for updating classroom workstations with excercises to address weaknesses my class as shown on formative assessments, and papers to grade. You see, I have had much constructive professional develoopment. However, these in-services leave me with a list of new things to implement and...you guessed it...no additional time to put what I have learned into practice in my classroom. I feel that if I had just one student-free day in my classroom, I could keep my head above water.

Additionally, paperwork as a teacher is a nightmare. There are times at work that I neglect my paperwork because I place my students as first priority. After being reprimanded, I realize that I'm just going to have to learn to place my students on the back-burner. I suppose paperwork is simply more important to administrators. 

So why am I burnt out? I don't have enough time to plan and coordinate quality instructional strategies, and I have to spend much of my available time pushing paper. Did I mention I have a family at home to take care of?

Comments

[Educlaytion]

Great points. I think most teachers love the part where it's us and students. Administration have got to be cut back because as long as they're there, they'll feel a need to do something, anything.
"Let's try this..."
Then the teachers have to figure it all out. When it comes to educational administrators, I'd say the 80/20 rule definitely applies. The good ones are great, but the bad ones...oy.

[Kate]

I think some younger teachers must get burnt out when they see teachers that make nearly twice as much as they do, doing very little. Salaries in our district are public, and I'm amazed that one of my kids teachers might make $30K more than the other one....but aren't necessarily a better teacher.