Teachers report high stress and concerns about leaving the profession

A new survey from the American Federation of Teachers shows that teachers are stressed, working second jobs and thinking about quitting.

Nearly two-thirds of the more than 2,000 members polled rated their weekly stress at seven or higher on a 10-point scale. Around 31% said they are likely to leave the profession next year.

Melissa Cropper is the vice president of the American Federation of Teachers. She said the findings reflect what teachers are experiencing across the country.

“The survey is showing that the Trump policies are having a negative impact on teachers. Sixty-one percent described the administration’s impact as very negative, 16% said it’s somewhat negative and this is an uptick even from last year,” Cropper said.

Teachers said weakening school funding, pressure to privatize, ICE activity harming families and increased cost of living caused concern. 

In Georgia, lawmakers approved a return-to-work program for retired teachers and a law to fund early literacy coaching in every elementary school. A law that would have stripped librarians of immunity for providing “harmful” materials to minors failed to pass.

Cropper said that stress on teachers also impacts students.

“It denies students the opportunity to actually get a full education because oftentimes, teachers are self-censoring, are holding back on conversations, keeping certain things off their agenda because they don’t want to deal with potential controversy,” Cropper observed.

In Georgia, the survey findings reflect concerns raised by local educators.