The first-ever EdWeek Teacher Morale Index stands at -13, on a scale ranging from -100 to +100, with higher scores indicating more positive feelings about the profession, according to Education Week.
This year’s score suggests that on average, teachers are feeling more negatively than positively about their jobs. But why exactly is teacher morale so low?
There are many reasons, including low salaries, heavy workloads, and a lack of support.
Education Week asked teachers from across the country to share the hardest parts of teaching in recent years — and what they see as the biggest misconceptions about their jobs.
What has been the hardest work-related challenge in the past two years?
“This past year, I became a mom. [I pieced together a maternity leave with the limited days off I had accumulated as a new teacher, donated sick leave from other teachers, extra sick days paid at a reduced rate, and unpaid leave.] My maternity leave cost me $4,000.
“The three weeks until the school year ended were bittersweet, because I was very much ready to go back to work, but I also wanted to be with my baby. I was stressed about leaving my baby.
“I invest a lot emotionally into my students—getting to know them very individually, getting to know their families. I’m now navigating having patience for your school life and then turning around to go home and do all that, too, [with my own child]. It’s challenging. But it’s worth it.”
—Sofia Alvarez-Briglie, a 7th grade science teacher at Alcott Middle School in Norman, Okla.
“Getting it all in. Time management. Curriculum requirements—managing that with classroom management.”
—Jacqueline Chaney, 2nd grade teacher at New Town Elementary in Owings Mills, Md.
“Not being able to provide my non-English-speaking students with an iPad in grades 3 to 5. I have two students, one in 3rd grade and one in 4th grade, for whom this is their second year for language acquisition. And they didn’t have any academic experience in their native language.
“Yes, they have a computer, they can use Google Translate. But with an iPad, they can take a picture [of a physical resource] and translate that text or the instructions given to perform a specific task. I believe that tool will ease their anxiety. It will make them more independent.”
—Griselle Rivera-Martinez, an English-for-speakers-of-other-languages teacher at Enterprise Elementary School in Enterprise, Fla.
“Last year, the biggest challenge was dealing with students that still hadn’t fully recovered from the COVID break—and it was a break, fundamentally, for a lot of kids.
“We had students that came to our school for the first time. [At our charter school, students attend half days in two cohorts so they can pursue other time-intensive pursuits.] … We’re operating under the assumption that you can be in some way motivated and self-guided—to be able to do some of the necessary learning [on your own]. Sometimes these kids are so far behind that even approaching classroom subject matter is difficult for them, let alone in such a quick and vigorous environment.
“This year, I feel like there’s a politicization [brewing]. … I’ve always felt like the political divide and the increasing stratification of the social environment hasn’t really made it onto our shores. But this year, we started to notice it and be a little bit concerned about it.”
—Frank Rivera, a middle and high school English/language arts teacher at Chaparral Star Academy in Austin, Texas
Education Week
