Stuart Youens, a former secondary school teacher from central Scotland, decided to leave the profession after two decades due to the toll of budget cuts, reduced support staff, increased additional needs, and rising bureaucracy. He expressed feeling dread about going to work and eventually left to become a lorry driver, finding much more happiness in his new role. Stress-related absences among teachers in Scotland have increased significantly over the past six years, prompting many to leave the profession, according to figures obtained by BBC Scotland News.
Youens highlighted the growing stressors within the classroom, including mobile phones, challenging behavior, and student disengagement. He noted that the amount of stress outside of teaching has also risen due to paperwork and qualifications. Simplifying the job by reducing bureaucracy and data collection would allow teachers to focus on their core responsibilities and find satisfaction in their work once more.
Transitioning to lorry driving, Youens found the simplicity and relaxation of the new profession to be a positive change from teaching. He emphasized the need for support for teachers to cope with stress and called for action to address the challenges faced by educators in Scotland. Questions about teacher absences due to stress were raised by Reform Scotland, urging the Scottish government to investigate the issue further.
Amid concerns about the impact of stress on teachers and students, education experts highlighted the detrimental effects of experienced teachers being absent or leaving the profession. The EIS union commissioned research showing a significant workload burden on teachers, with many working unpaid hours. Calls have been made for the government and local authorities to address the rising stress levels and implement measures to support teachers’ well-being. The Scottish government has allocated funds to support the well-being of the education workforce, aiming to increase teacher numbers and reduce class contact time
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