Burnout_Handout

Music Teacher Burnout Are you burning out? If you’re reading this, the odds are that you’ve felt one or more of the symptoms of teacher burnout. Given the complexities of teaching music and the current condition of our school systems across the country--it’s a sure bet that stress is a part of your life. Have you thrown up your hands and said, “I can’t take it any more?” Cried yourself to sleep in the past year? Looked seriously at the classified job ads in your Sunday paper? If so, you are not alone. Burnout affects every single person in “helping professions. ” That’s you. You are a music teacher in a helping profession who is subject to incredible stressors day after day. This journal, based on my extensive research on this topic, is designed to help you immediately understand the burnout you are feeling and more importantly---what to do about it. Dr. Barbara Payne McLain University of Hawaii - Manoa Why did I decide to research burnout? Because I too, was burning out and I needed help. I’m going to share in this publication, a summary of what I’ve learned, and how you can help yourself and others-cope with burnout. That’s right--I said “cope. ” If you’re looking for a cure--forget it! There is no cure, but there are actions you can take to reduce and control your burnout that will help you enjoy a long and more satisfying music teaching career. The first step is for you to recognize your burnout and realize that you are not a wimp! You are not some sort of “teacher reject”--psychologically flawed in some way. You are a normal music teacher. That means you are intelligent, dedicated and you probably started this career with highly stable emotions. The second step is to get ready to analyze your job and everything related to it. Symptoms of Burnout u not being your best u increasing negativity u fatigue u loss of hope u lack of energy u insomnia u stomach ailments u high blood pressure u anger u sadness u depression u cynicism u helplessness u low enthusiasm u panic u increased yelling u isolating oneself u absenteeism u feelings of insecurity Event # Times Past Month (max 4) Value Score A major confrontation with your principal x 23 = A major change in school scheduling that negatively affects your program x 30 = A major confrontation with a parent. x 15 = Reduction in budget x 12 = Required school-wide curriculum analysis & revisions x 9 = More than 2 performances in past 30 days x 20 = Ensemble day- trip (in-state) x 30 = Ensemble trip - overnight (out-of-state) x 40 = Ensemble trip - overnight (foreign) x 100 = Excessive ensemble dropouts or attrition (more than 2 students) x 15 = School musical x 35 = Major theft or loss of program equipment x 23 = Negative evaluation from principal. x 40 = Major schedule conflict with other afterschool or weekend activity (sports, drama, testing, etc. . ) x 20 = Program threatened with reduction by school administration x 75 = Program threatened with elimination by school administration x 100 = Facilities conflict x 15 = Major loss of rehearsal time (convocations, tests, fire drills. . . ) x 44 = Performance for other music teachers (festivals, state conference, etc. . ) x 20 = Teaching when ill x 10 Fundraising activity x 15 Major disciplinary event or frequent class control problems x 26 The McLain Inventory of Recent Music Teacher Stress Experiences Based on the SRE of Holmes (1967). Scores will range from low of 0 to maximum of 2,868. Scores over 300 indicate at least the temporary risk of severe music teacher burnout. This inventory has not been validated. For presentation purposes only.