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Teacher Stress is Worse Than…

Teacher Stress is Worse Than…

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People who have never taught don’t quite understand just how stressful it can be. Teacher stress is much worse than the stress you encounter in many other careers. Not only are teachers “on” all day, but they often work extra hours outside of contract work and act as mentors, caregivers, peacemakers, social workers, and more to a variety of students with a multitude of needs.

Teacher Stress

I worked at a crisis center where people in crisis would call or come by. They were often suicidal. It was very difficult, but I guarantee teacher stress was worse! At least at the crisis center, I was only handling one person at a time. And we were supported emotionally as well.

As a teacher, I take care of 150+ students a day, and many are in crisis. There is no support for my own emotional health.

Man covered in monkeys with quote - "Teaching is more stressful than working at a wildlife rehab where I regularly handled, fed, and cleaned lizards, snakes, raccoons, owls, hawks, and bobcats. Some were rabid."

Teaching is Extremely Stressful

I asked my social media followers to describe other stressful jobs and situations they have had that still don’t compare to the stress of teaching. Respondents cited the following jobs they had worked as less stressful than teaching:

  • Oncology nurse
  • Debt collector
  • Probation officer
  • Police officer
  • 911 dispatcher
  • Lifeguard
  • Bounty hunter
  • Bartender on New Year’s Eve
  • Lawyer
  • Working on Black Friday at Target, Best Buy, Kmart, and Toys “R” Us

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Teacher Stress is Worse Than…

Some teachers used to have very physically demanding jobs that still didn’t compare to the stress of teaching.

One person said, “I used to clean up a construction site for 13 hours a day, 6 days a week. I was physically exhausted, but not mentally and emotionally. Plus, I didn’t think about work when I went home. Teaching is much harder.”

Another person said, “Teaching is more stressful than carrying troughs of brick mortar in the hot sun for 8 hours a day. I was so tired when I got home that I had to nap, so I had the energy just to shower! However, I didn’t have to worry about those bricks once I left work.” Another teacher said their job is much harder than when they did cleanup after Hurricane Katrina. 

Others talked about fearing for their lives at other jobs, but that still didn’t compare to the stress of teaching.

One person said, “Teaching is more stressful than working at a wildlife rehab where I regularly handled, fed and cleaned lizards, snakes, raccoons, owls, hawks, and bobcats. Some were rabid.”

A teacher said that he used to be a park ranger at a national park where he was “bluff charged by a bear” and it was still not as stressful as teaching.

Another person said that “Teaching is more stressful than undergoing spinal surgery that could have paralyzed me.”

Firefighter next to a firetruck with caption - I taught once a week for a year at a high school and teaching is definitely more stressful than being a firefighter.

Teacher Stress Outranks Dangerous Jobs

Other dangerous scenarios that were cited as being less stressful than being a teacher included:

  • Being a line cook where sometimes the chef would throw pans, and I cut my fingertip off
  • Working as a cashier at a grocery store where they were “robbed at gunpoint twice,”
  • Dancing in a parade at Disneyland dressed as Mickey Mouse in the 100-degree heat “where I wasn’t allowed to take the head off even when I vomited from heat exhaustion
  • Giving birth to an 11-pound baby “with no meds”
  • Scaffolding 800 ft in the air while people are walking below you

Some other extremely difficult situations that were given as less challenging than being a teacher include:

  • Being a guard at a jail
  • Being the only cook in a kitchen making breakfast for 150 customers
  • Accounting for multi-million dollar accounts
  • Working as Chuck E. Cheese and getting groped by creepy adults
  • Working as a customer service agent in baggage claim for an airline. “Anytime someone’s luggage went missing; I would have to try to locate it. One time a dog escaped from the pit of an airplane and was hit by a 767 on the runway, and I had to deliver the news to the owners. But teaching is worse.” 
Female nurse saying, "Teaching is more stressful than working in the medical field for 18 years and touching things that would blow people's minds. I was a teacher for one year, and it was heinous. I would never try that again."

Teacher Stress vs. Former Career Stress

Some teachers talked about very stressful former careers that involved protecting the lives of others, and they still didn’t compare to teacher stress. One commented, “Teaching is more stressful than working in the medical field for 18 years and touching things that would blow people’s minds. I was a teacher for one year, and it was heinous. It was too stressful to relay information and keep people engaged. I would never try it again.”

A former social worker said, “Teaching is more stressful than working for Child Protective Services. At least they provided whatever supplies I needed.” An ER nurse said, “I bow humbly before every teacher!”

One current teacher said that “teaching is more stressful than flying a low-level helicopter route through mountains with the newest kid in the squadron and making sure we don’t die.”

A firefighter said, “I taught once a week for a year at a high school and teaching is definitely more stressful than being a firefighter.”

And a former teacher said, “I left teaching to become a doctor, and I can honestly tell you that teaching is harder than med school.” 

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Don’t Mess with Me. I’m a Stressed Teacher!

So the next time a non-teacher complains that teachers have it easy, maybe direct them to this article. The jury is out. Teacher stress is way worse than just about any other job out there.

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Jane Morris

Jane Morris is the pen name of an ex-teacher who would really like to tell you more about herself but is worried awful administrators will come after her for spilling their dirty little secrets. Jane has taught English for over 15 years in a major American city. She received her B.A. in English and Secondary Education from a well-known university and her M.A. in Writing and Literature from an even fancier (and more expensive) university. As a professional queen of commiseration turned published author, Jane’s foremost passion in life is to make people laugh through the tears.

She has written several highly acclaimed books unpacking the reality of teaching and life inside the school system. You can view her full library of works here.