Teachers feel tired, worried survey finds

Educators ‘losing sleep over students who are struggling,’ association president says

After nearly three months of remote learning, teachers are exhausted, isolated and deeply concerned about safety protocols for next fall, according to survey results released by the Alberta Teachers’ Association on Tuesday.

The ATA says that while teachers have been agile in their response to the COVID-19 crisis and the transition from in-class learning to online, the stresses of the pandemic have had a profound effect.

According to the survey, which collected responses from 8,100 teachers and school leaders over three weeks in early May, up to 70 per cent are feeling exhausted and disconnected from students, with some losing sleep over learning struggles and some students’ inability to adapt to remote learning.

“Teachers really are feeling exhausted and isolated as they work to respond to this emergency environment, and it’s been difficult,” said Jason Schilling, president of the Alberta Teachers’ Association.

“School is very much about relationships, and face-to-face interactions. But remote teaching doesn’t necessarily make room for that. So teachers are taking on that burden.”

Among teachers and school leaders, 63 per cent are feeling isolated, and 75 per cent are not feeling the same emotional connection with students as they did before the pandemic.

Compassion fatigue was also highlighted as a deep concern for teachers, with up to 35 per cent taking on some of the trauma of their students, and many worrying whether their students are being supported or fed properly at home as efforts to connect with families are repeatedly ignored.

Up to 62 per cent of teachers surveyed said access to extra help for students above and beyond classroom support is a top concern, while 64 per cent said technology, such as access and digital literacy, is an issue.

Overall, 79 per cent of teachers say students’ overall readiness to learn has declined, 77 per cent say students’ ability to focus has declined and 67 per cent say students’ commitment to checking in online each day has declined.

Schilling said the UCP government’s decision to lay off more than 20,000 support staff at the end of March also had a huge effect on teachers and their ability to support special-needs students.

“Teachers are losing sleep over students who are struggling, and the fact they may not be able to address it,” Schilling said.

“And the loss of educational assistants and other support staff has created stresses that are key to that.”

Teachers are also struggling with their own physical and mental health, the survey said, with 65 per cent of teachers feeling their energy level is lower than 30 days ago.

Looking ahead to the fall — as the province and school boards continue to discuss three possible scenarios for a return to classes, including

Mental wellness is a big concern. Not just for staff, but for students, too.

continued online learning, a return to school with restrictions, or blended learning including both — teachers have several concerns.

“Mental wellness is a big concern,” Schilling said. “Not just for staff, but for students, too. It’s all been a lot, and we will need mental-health supports once we return.”

Meanwhile, Premier Jason Kenney said Tuesday that cabinet will review a detailed proposal this week from Alberta Education on how to safely reopen schools, based in part on input from the ATA, school boards and parents.

The survey data from this study is highly representative of the profession of teaching in Alberta and has a confidence interval of plus or minus 1.5 per cent (19 times out of 20) on all questions.