The Number of Disheartened Teachers is on the Rise!

An article featured in Education Week reports the findings of a study showing that 2 out of every 5 teachers are “disheartened” by their jobs. This was a nationwide study of teachers called “Teaching for a Living: How Teachers See the Profession Today.”

The study of the Teacher Community is taking a closer look at what motivated educators to get into the field as well as their attitudes towards teaching. The study showed that about 40% of the teachers surveyed are disheartened about their jobs and their teaching environments. These teachers sited a lack of support from their principals and other administrators, and they also were concerned with their working conditions and student behavior. More than half of the teachers who fell into the disheartened category teach in “low-income” schools.

There are 2 other categories considered in the study; they are labeled “Contented”, which make up 37% of the teachers surveyed, and “Idealists” which made up the last 23%. Contented teachers reported excellent working conditions and experience in the profession. Idealists report that they became teachers to help disadvantaged students and they feel that their teaching greatly increases the test scores of their students.

An attempt should be made to take these findings into account in order to help improve the morale of education professionals. I think a good way to improve moral in teachers is to provide them with a Teacher Network to help teachers feel less isolated from their peers and to gain support from peers who may be going through similar situations and may have some advice. In any situation, professional or not it is important to have connections to peers.

Applebatch.com offers teachers a place to go and discuss these and other issues. It also provides a forum for education professionals to seek help with lesson plans as well as career advice and opportunities. We understand that teachers need to have a way to voice their opinions.