Teacher stress - Why I am not surprised
“Class action: Teacher stress claims increase by 55pc over five years” is the headline from Emily Kowal’s piece in the Daily Telegraph today. I am not surprised. This crisis has been unfolding for some time and well before the Covid era.
The well known stressors of workload, increased administrative tasks, inconsistent, ineffective support and mentoring in the early career years, while being addressed in part, are still impacting the teacher workforce.
Have we considered the impact of covid mandates on the supply of teachers?
There were teachers who left their employment (unwillingly or terminated), unable to give informed consent over the C19 therapies.
The remaining staff took up additional duties, classes to cover those immediate gaps.
The ensuing pressure with learning from home and adjustments to regular flow of school life was made more challenging with the ever changing, stop/go “medical” advice.
A large number of teachers close to retirement decided it was time to go; this was a huge loss of corporate knowledge and skill.
Do teachers feel valued? An AITSL study revealed that only 45% of Australian teachers in lower secondary schools believed that the teaching profession is valued by society, indicating a disparity between public opinion and teachers' perceptions. Additionally, concerns have been raised about the societal prioritisation of rights over responsibilities, with nearly 50% of graduate teachers leaving the profession within five years and reports of teachers experiencing bullying or harassment from students and parents.
One thing we have not considered is the decline in trust that has impacted across the country. Australians’ trust in government and other institutions was already taking a hammering before the Covid era. The 2022 Edelman Trust Barometer shows an overall decline in trust.
Only 52% of Australians say they trust government to do the right thing (-9 points year-on-year) and 58% trusting each business (-5 points) and NGOs (-4 points). Media, which saw a notable surge in trust in 2021, fell by 8 points to 43%, making it the only institution in Australia distrusted by a majority of the population.
In the Edelman Report education is still a trusted sector. Now I am wondering if we are seeing the precursors to that being challenged and the burnout and stress being experienced by teachers at higher levels is a sign that declining trust could be a contributor.
In 2021/2022 The NSW Department of Education expended $ 2,495,397 Employee Assistance Programs up from $1,500,006 pre Covid 2018/2019. EAPs are useful and can provide essential support if they are promoted, well utilised, and unequivocally confidential. However, in the medium to long term analysis of teacher supply, I argue that to a certain extent EAPs are the bottom of the cliff response to the stress and burnout we are witnessing.
If we value the role of educators we need to show it and not just by splashing money around in increased salaries. “More money” as a response doesn’t address the underlying issues. There needs to be a comprehensive evaluation of the value teachers have in the education of our children. Trust. We need to build trust. Without that nothing we do will be authentic, real, or sustainable.
Some new thinking is needed.
