Running head: REACTION PAPER
Abstract
Recent changes in the field of education have led to teacher burnout and have many
teachers leaving their classrooms. Not only are many of these teachers leaving their classrooms,
but they are choosing to leave the field of education all together. Currently, teacher burnout is a
significant problem in the field of education. Teachers are physically, emotionally, and mentally
exhausted due to the demands and stressors associated with their profession. This paper will
discuss the main causes of teacher burnout such as excessive workloads, classroom management
challenges, lack of resources, high expectations, and administrative demands. Signs and
symptoms of teacher burnout will also be discussed throughout this paper. There can be physical
symptoms, emotional exhaustion, detachment issues, irritability, withdrawal, and decreased job
performance due to teacher burnout. Addressing teacher burnout is important for maintaining a
positive learning environment for students, as well as the overall mental and physical health of
the educator. All schools should make sure they are taking the correct proactive measures to
prevent and address teacher burnout.
Running head: REACTION PAPER
“Teacher burnout and physical health: A systematic review”
Summary
According to the article, “Teacher burnout and physical health: A systematic review”
teacher burnout can be responsible for many mental and physical health consequences. “Teachers
are at risk of many negative physical health consequences. The high levels of burnout in the
teaching profession may be one of the reasons why this is the case.” (Daniel J. Madigan, Lisa E.
Kim, Hanna L. Glandorf, Owen Kavanagh, 2023) The findings in this article show that teacher
burnout was widely associated with physical illnesses such as headaches, gastroenteritis, high
cortisol levels, and inflammation. There are also mental health consequences including
depression, anxiety, and decreased life and work enjoyment. The article speaks about the
demanding working conditions of teachers and how it can lead to emotional exhaustion,
cynicism, and reduced work efficiency. The consequences for teacher burnout can include
personal conflict, irritability, and ineffective communication.
Critique
This is a well-written article with a lot of important and valuable information discussing
the possible negative physical and mental implications that teacher burnout can have on an
individual. The article was recently published and has relevant information about the negative
effects of teacher burnout and why they are occurring. The article does mention that individual
and teacher-focused interventions may be helpful when dealing with teacher burnout but does not
elaborate further. Information about proactive measures and interventions to prevent and assist
with teacher burnout could have been helpful if added to this article.
Running head: REACTION PAPER
Personal Reaction
This article was informative and made several important points about the negative
physical and mental health effects due to teacher burnout. All individuals could benefit by
reading this article to get a better understanding of how demanding and stressful working in
education can be. This article could also inform individuals of physical and mental health signs
to look for when accessing and attempting to prevent teacher burnout. This article has broadened
my knowledge and allowed me to understand how teachers can become overwhelmed in the
classroom. Unfortunately, teachers are not the only ones that can suffer from teacher burnout,
students can feel the effects as well. “In addition, there is evidence that teacher burnout affects
student outcomes, with studies finding reductions in academic achievement and quality of
student motivation.” (Daniel J. Madigan, Lisa E. Kim, Hanna L. Glandorf, Owen Kavanagh,
2023)
Application
The information in this article is relevant to the current conditions of the education field.
This article explains the significant concern of teacher burnout and how it is affecting many
teachers. The rise in excessive workloads, classroom management challenges, high expectations,
and emotional exhaustion has resulted in higher teacher burnout rates in education. In the future
there are anticipated challenges, continued pressures to perform, curriculum and policy concerns,
and limited resources in the field of education. This has been an issue for many years but seems
to be a growing concern. Addressing teacher burnout, both in the present and in the future will
require proactive measures from all schools and educational institutions. This can be
accomplished by recognizing the effects of burnout and creating a supportive and collaborative
work environment.
Running head: REACTION PAPER
“Teaching Students with Emotional/Behavioral Disorders: Teachers’ Burnout Profiles and
Classroom Management”
Summary
“Teaching Students with Emotional/Behavioral Disorders: Teachers’ Burnout Profiles
and Classroom Management” discusses teacher burnout with emphasis on special education
teachers educating students with emotional and behavioral disorders. “Burnout is a psychological
construct that encompasses multiple components: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and
feelings of reduced personal accomplishment.” (Gilmour, Sandilos, L. E., Pilny, W. V., Schwartz,
S., & Wehby, J. H., 2022) Burnout is further discussed in this article and fully explains how and
why these components are affected. This article explains that one-way teachers are dealing with
the negative effects of burnout is by leaving the education field altogether. “Both special and
general education teachers may respond to burnout by making different career choices, feeling
less able to do their work, giving students less autonomy and choice, or changing their classroom
management styles.” (Gilmour, Sandilos, L. E., Pilny, W. V., Schwartz, S., & Wehby, J. H., 2022)
It is discussed that special education teachers may have a higher burnout rate due to the increased
stress of behavioral and emotional challenges their student’s may face.
Critique
This article has some valuable information for all teachers and even digs further into the
additional stressors that special education teachers may be faced with. The article is well
organized and written so that it is easily understood. The article did a good job of explaining why
teachers, especially in the special education field are becoming burned out, however, could have
given more information on signs to look for with teachers dealing with burnout. The article had
information about the importance of being proactive and preventing teacher burnout from
Running head: REACTION PAPER
escalating. “School and district administrators would benefit from understanding the burnout
profiles of teachers who have students with emotional/behavioral disorders in their classroom to
better predict staff burnout and attrition, and, even more importantly, to support teachers before
they reach this stage.” (Gilmour, Sandilos, L. E., Pilny, W. V., Schwartz, S., & Wehby, J. H.,
2022)
Personal Reaction
This article brought to life many strong points about working in the special education field.
Where all teachers are faced with obstacles in the classroom, special education teachers deal with
students who are facing behavioral and emotional challenges daily. This can cause additional
stress and make it more difficult to facilitate positive classroom management. As a special
education teacher who works in a behavioral school, I feel that this article had several strong
points and great information about the challenges that often arise and result in additional stress.
Application
This article was relevant, giving excellent information on teacher burnout. It was well
written, giving the complete definition of burnout and then explaining its components even
further. This article discusses issues in current education and how these challenges can be
addressed in the future to hopefully decrease teacher burnout rates. The article stresses that
educational institutions and schools need to be proactive in reducing teacher stress before it
reaches levels that is causing educators to leave their profession. In addition to teacher burnout,
high stress levels and demanding workloads for teachers can result in students paying the price.
“Teacher attrition not only creates financial and staffing challenges for schools but also
negatively influences students’ academic outcomes.” (Gilmour, Sandilos, L. E., Pilny, W. V.,
Schwartz, S., & Wehby, J. H., 2022)
Running head: REACTION PAPER
References
Daniel J. Madigan, Lisa E. Kim, Hanna L. Glandorf, Owen Kavanagh, (March 8, 2023). Teacher
burnout and physical health: A systematic review, International Journal of Educational Research,
Volume 119, 2023, 102173, ISSN 0883-0355, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2023.102173.
Gilmour, Sandilos, L. E., Pilny, W. V., Schwartz, S., & Wehby, J. H. (2022). Teaching Students
With Emotional/Behavioral Disorders: Teachers’ Burnout Profiles and Classroom
Management.FJournal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders.,F30(1), 16–28.
https://doi.org/10.1177/10634266211020258
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