A Five-Alarm Crisis
Nationwide, an estimated 389,300 teachers left the profession between February 2020 and January 2022,[1] and data indicates the exodus is not over. A survey this year, conducted by the National Education Association (NEA), found that approximately 55% of teachers are considering resigning or retiring ahead of schedule.[2] These predictions have become so severe that NEA’s president, Becky Pringle, has described the current situation as, “a five-alarm crisis.”[3]
As the Nevada Public School system prepares to open its doors for the new school year, it has 3,000 vacancies including teachers, bus drivers, and cafeteria workers.[4] Yet Nevada is not the only state facing this shortage. Chuck North, the Superintendent of Reading Community Schools in Michigan, describes that school districts within his state are now stealing teachers from each other because there are no new candidates out there.[5] Schools are scrambling to fill vacancies by relaxing teacher certification requirements, [6-8] and many are left wondering what went wrong.
Returning to Maslow
Mental health in schools is usually discussed in terms of addressing the needs of students, but in light of the current crisis, it has become apparent that it is time to expand this discussion to address the well-being of school employees.[9] A RAND study from 2021, shows that since the pandemic began, teachers were “almost three times more likely to report symptoms of depression than other adults,” resulting in a mental health crisis that is taking thousands of teachers out of their professions.[10]
In 1943, psychologist Abraham Maslow published his hierarchy of needs, listing five levels of needs/requirements that must be met in order for human beings to thrive.[11] This hierarchy is organized in the shape of a pyramid (see below) with the most essential human needs for survival on the bottom, working up to the ideals of a fulfilled life.[12] The theory states that the lower levels of the pyramid must be met one layer at a time before progressing to the next level.[13] Maslow’s hierarchy has been used in teacher training programs for decades, but it is usually focused on how meeting student needs can facilitate learning.[14] In light of the current staff shortage, it may be time to revisit the pyramid and consider its application to the needs of educators.
Image source from Simply Psychology[15]
Level 1: Physiological Needs
The bottom of the pyramid describes the physiological needs that are essential for human survival.[16] These includes items such as food, water, air, shelter, and sleep;[17] it is believed that these needs must be met before moving on to fulfilling ideal desires.[18] When educators analyze this level in terms of student success, one consideration is whether children have “food security” at home, yet the discussion of whether teachers experience food insecurity is often not considered.
Food Security: Food security has been defined as, “having dependable access to enough food for active, healthy living.”[19] In the Spring of 2020, researchers studying the link between depression and food insecurity in a cohort of low-income families and educators in the Tulsa, Oklahoma metro area, found that before the pandemic began, 24% of teachers surveyed were considered food-insecure.[20] While this number dropped slightly during the pandemic, possibly due to programs like grab-and-go bagged lunches distributed at schools, it did not drop below 20%.[21] A separate survey of 862 elementary school teachers who serve low-income communities within the US also found that 29.1% reported experiencing food insecurity.[22] This prevalence of food insecurity in educators is likely linked to the low pay received in many school districts, which falls under “safety needs,” and brings us to the next section of the pyramid.
Level 2: Safety Needs
The second level of Maslow’s hierarchy addresses safety needs, which includes sufficient income/employment, maintenance of health, and personal safety.[23] Though the majority of teachers have the resources available to meet their basic physiological needs, this is the level where many begin to struggle.
Sufficient Income: In 2018, it was determined that teachers made 21.4% less than their non-teaching counterparts when adjusting for experience and education.[24] As an example, the Michigan Educators Association states that a new teacher in Michigan makes an average of $37,320 per year.[25] Similarly, an anonymous elementary school teacher from Richmond, Virginia told Newsweek that he is working 60 hours per week, but still struggles to support his family since a continually increasing workload prevents him from getting a second job.[26] Low salaries result in creating a state of continual stress and anxiety. This problem has been an ongoing issue, as illustrated by the fact that during the 2015-2016 school year, 59% of teachers reported picking up additional work outside of the school day.[27]
Maintenance of Health: Health has become increasingly difficult to maintain during the COVID-19 pandemic. When early childhood educators were deemed essential workers, they struggled with their own fears of safety amidst the spread of contracting the contagious illness.[28] The CDC guidelines for addressing COVID-19 made teachers feel that they had to choose between their health and their profession, causing some to feel the risk was not worth it.[29] Phylicia Jiminez, a former English teacher, told Newsweek that she had gotten used to lockdown drills and other threats, but that being asked to return to the classroom during the pandemic without protection made her feel that, “they’re actually trying to kill us… there’s no desire to help us out in any way.”[30] When teachers returned to the classroom after lockdowns, they struggled to find the balance between keeping students engaged while implementing social distancing and mask wearing for safety.[31]
Since returning to the classroom, teachers have continued struggling with their physical health. In the past year, they have reported experiencing: weight loss; digestive issues; anxiety attacks; racing heartbeat and headaches.[32] Further, stress in educators and other school employees has been connected to increased illness, fatigue, and absenteeism.[33] A middle school teacher from Los Angeles, Bethany Collins, describes having used all of her sick days for maternity leave and then being told that if she or a family member contracted COVID-19 she would not be able to take any paid time off.[34] After the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, students fell academically behind, but instead of lessening testing requirements, Rahman (2022) found that teachers believe they are being asked to test even more, increasing the pressure of the job.[35]
Personal Safety: The Uvalde school shooting on May 29th, resulted in the death of 19 students and 2 teachers,[36] reminding school staff once again of the increasing dangers of their profession. Since the Sandy Hook tragedy, 900 school shootings have taken place,[37] and as of July, 83 people have been killed or injured in 2022 from gun violence in schools.[38] This leaves teachers having to reassure students and parents of safety when they are often processing the traumatic events, themselves. Teachers and school staff members have experienced negative mental health effects from school shootings including sleep disorders, appetite loss, increased fatigue, decreased appetite, and heightened startle reflex.[39] Simply hearing about these events can cause teachers to imagine themselves in that scenario and lead to vicarious trauma.[40]
Yet school shootings are also not the only threats to educator safety. A recent survey conducted by the American Psychological Association estimated that one third of teachers reported experiencing threats or verbal harassment from a student since the beginning of the pandemic, and over 40% of administrators reported at least one threatening incident from a parent during COVID.[41] Dr. Susan Dvorak McMahon, chair of the APA Task Force on Violence Against Educators and School Personnel, states that, “Violence against educators is a public health problem.”[42] Safety has been a growing concern for several years as an analysis conducted in 2019 showed that 12.4% of teachers reported being physically attacked by a student at their school and 21.8% had been threatened at work.[43] Maslow’s theory suggests that educators will not be able to move to focusing on higher levels of fulfillment until this basic need for safety is met.[44]
Level 3: Love and belonging
Maslow’s third level focuses on feeling loved and having a sense of belonging. This includes maintaining friendships, experiencing intimacy, close family ties, and having a sense of connection.[45]
Connection and Belonging: An analysis of teacher’s own perception of their occupation, published in March of 2020,noted educators felt they did not have relationships that were nurturing with administrators or colleagues.[46] When the pandemic began, there was a brief surge in respect for teachers, with even celebrities sharing praise for the profession.[47] Yet the surge of glory was short lived, and the past year has thrown educators into the depths of highly-charged battles, such as teaching critical race theory,[48] and protests over mask mandates[49-51]. Clay Michalec, a band teacher with over ten years of experience from Maryland, shared the added stress of a parent threatening to report him to a senator, over displaying Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ pride flags, had such an impact on his mental health that he wasn’t able to come off of antidepressants, or even feeling human again, until he changed careers.[52] Even in 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic, public school K-12 teachers as well as childcare providers reported a spike in symptoms of depression.[53]
Educators are also susceptible to a phenomenon known as secondary traumatic stress, or compassion fatigue, which is developed from knowing about another person’s traumatic experiences and the stress that develops from wanting to help the person who is suffering. [54] As a result, teachers who are trying to help a student deal with abuse or distress at home can have their own mental and physical health impacted.[55] The burnout and exhaustion related to teaching can result in emotional numbing, feeling “shut down,” increased pessimism, problems with boundaries, and a lack of enjoyment.[56]
Level 4: Esteem
Maslow’s fourth level of the pyramid addresses an individual’s need to feel respect, self-esteem, status, recognition, strength, and freedom.[57]
Respect: A recent article in NEA news stated, “The root cause of educator exhaustion and frustration is a lack of support and respect.”[58] The perceived lack of respect for those in the education system is illustrated by NEA President Pringle explaining that some politicians have been attacking schools and trying to divide parents from educators instead of working with teachers to find solutions.[59] The criticism of educators over the past two years has left them feeling disrespected. Wendy Grider, a four-grade teacher who recently resigned, describes seeing parents in her district criticizing homework assignments over social media this year while inside classrooms teachers were dealing with disrespect and threats from students.[60]
Freedom: The changes to the education system have also taken away the autonomy of teachers to make decisions about the curriculum and create an environment in their classrooms that is supportive to their students.[61] Educators report having little input into new policies enacted in their own schools and do not feel consulted as professionals.[62] In fact, Garcia & Weiss (2020) found that over 70% of teachers indicated that they do not have input as to the materials they use within their classes or what content they teach.[63] This feeling was only amplified last school year when Oklahoma proposed fining teachers $10,000 if they taught controversial topics perceived to be against a student’s religion, including birth control or the Big Bang Theory.[64] It was then further heightened by proposed legislation in various states aimed at installing live camera feeds in classrooms,[65-67] which educator advocates believe is an attempt at censoring teachers and, in an Iowa proposal, a 5% fine of a teacher’s weekly salary would be enacted if their camera became disabled.[68] This is in addition to another perceived assault on teacher freedom from Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law which educators worry would regulate the way they can support LGBTQ students and families.[69] One-by-one, the freedom of teachers to make decisions about how and what they teach is being stripped away, which can impact the needed sense of freedom and autonomy to teach the core content of their curriculum in an effective way.
Level 5: Self-actualization
The Goal: The final level of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs occurs when an individual reaches the highest levels of self-actualization.[70] At this stage, a person feels they are living their best lives to the fullest extent possible.[71] They are able to be creative and feel fulfilled in their careers.[72] However, according to Maslow, it is not possible to attain this stage unless prior needs are met. Maslow’s theory of motivation teaches us that as long as teachers are pulled down by obstacles in the lower levels of the pyramid, they will be hindered from achieving this ideal goal.[73]
Examples of burnout exist across the country. Scott Henderson, a ninth grade social studies teacher who left half-way through last school year, explains that when he had to go to the classroom door to speak with a parent who arrived unannounced, he turned back into the room to find students throwing tampons at the ceiling and rummaging through his desk.[74] Similarly, Kaitlin Moore, a former teacher, describes the emotional blackmail that is experienced in schools when teachers are told that, “since everything is for the kids,” not wanting to do something when you’re instructed to must mean that you “don’t love the kids enough.”[75] Another teacher shared the irony of being told to practice self-care by administration while simultaneously being denied the right to use personal leave.[76]
These examples illustrate that as long as educators are placed in the position of battling for lower-level needs, it will be difficult for them to ever achieve the highest level of self-actualization that can enable them to thrive successfully in their careers. Studies have shown that teacher’s mental health impacts not only the mental health of the students, but also the overall effectiveness of the learning environment.[77] Expanding the influence of Maslow’s hierarchy to not only dictate student needs, but educator needs as well, would help to ensure the needs of all those involved are met.
Contributed by: Theresa Nair
Editor: Jennifer (Ghahari) Smith, Ph.D.
REFERENCES
1 Walker, T. Beyond burnout: What must be done to tackle the educator shortage | NEA. https://www.nea.org/advocating-for-change/new-from-nea/beyond-burnout-what-must-be-done-tackle-educator-shortage. Updated 2022a. Accessed Jul 27, 2022.
2 Rahman, K. America's teacher exodus leaves education system in crisis. Newsweek Web site. https://www.newsweek.com/americas-teacher-exodus-education-system-crisis-1679415. Updated 2022. Accessed July 28, 2022.
3 Will, M. Will There Really Be a Mass Exodus of Teachers? Experts see poor morale as a warning sign, but are wary about making predictions about turnover. Education week. 2022;41(25):4-.
4 News ABC. Nevada official laments teacher, staff shortages ahead of back-to-school season. ABC News Web site. https://abcnews.go.com/US/nevada-official-laments-teacher-staff-shortages-ahead-back/story?id=87926108. Updated 2022. Accessed Aug 13, 2022.
5 Mauriello, T. Chalkbeat: Michigan Has a Teacher Shortage Problem. Newstex; 2022.
6 Powell Crain, T. Alabama lowers teacher certification requirements, effective immediately. al Web site. https://www.al.com/educationlab/2022/07/alabama-approves-immediate-changes-to-teacher-certification-praxis.html. Updated 2022. Accessed Aug 13, 2022.
7 Military veterans teacher certification pathway now open. The School District of Lee County Web site. https://www.leeschools.net/news/august_2022/veterans_teacher_certification_pathway. Updated 2022. Accessed Aug 13, 2022.
8 Will, M. States relax teacher certification rules to combat shortages. Education Week. June 28, 2022. Available from: https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/states-relax-teacher-certification-rules-to-combat-shortages/2022/06. Accessed Aug 13, 2022.
9 Lever, N., Mathis, E., Mayworm, A. School Mental Health Is Not Just for Students: Why Teacher and School Staff Wellness Matters. Rep Emot Behav Disord Youth. 2017;17(1):6-12.
10 Noonoo, S. The mental health crisis causing teachers to quit. Ed Surge Web site. https://www.edsurge.com/news/2022-05-02-the-mental-health-crisis-causing-teachers-to-quit. Updated 2022. Accessed July 29, 2022.
11 Gepp, K. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs pyramid: Uses and criticism. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/maslows-hierarchy-of-needs. Updated 2022. Accessed Aug 13, 2022.
12 Mcleod, S. [Maslow's hierarchy of needs]. Simply Psychology Web site. https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html. Updated 2022. Accessed Aug 13, 2022.
13 Gepp (2022)
14 Panka, L. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs in schools. . 2022. https://csaedu.com/maslows-hierarchy-of-needs-in-schools/. Accessed Aug 13, 2022.
15 Mcleod (2022)
16 Gepp (2022)
17 Ibid.
18 Maslow, AH. A theory of human motivation. Psychological review. 1943;50(4):370-396. doi:10.1037/h0054346
19 Coleman-Jensen A, Gregory C, Singh A. Household Food Security in the United States in 2013.; 2014.
20 Martin, A., Partika, A., Castle, S., Horm, D., Johnson, AD. Both sides of the screen: Predictors of parents’ and teachers’ depression and food insecurity during COVID-19-related distance learning. Early childhood research quarterly. 2022;60:237-249. doi:10.1016/j.ecresq.2022.02.001
21 Ibid.
22 Li, F., Parthasarathy, N., Zhang, F., et al. Food Insecurity and Health-Related Concerns Among Elementary Schoolteachers During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Preventing chronic disease. 2022;19:E27-E27. doi:10.5888/pcd19.210392
23 Gepp (2022)
24 García, E., Weiss, E. How teachers view their own professional status: A SNAPSHOT. Phi Delta Kappan. 2020;101(6):14-18. doi:10.1177/0031721720909581
25 Mauriello (2022)
26 Rahman (2022)
27 Garcia & Weiss (2020)
28 Crawford, A., Vaughn, KA., Guttentag, CL., Varghese, C., Oh, Y., Zucker, TA. “Doing What I can, but I got no Magic Wand:” A Snapshot of Early Childhood Educator Experiences and Efforts to Ensure Quality During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Early childhood education journal. 2021;49(5):829-840. doi:10.1007/s10643-021-01215-z
29 Rahman (2022)
30 Ibid.
31 Crawford et al. (2021)
32 Noonoo (2022)
33 Lever et al. (2017)
34 Noonoo (2022)
35 Rahman (2022)
36 Strickland, M. Idaho capital sun - states newsroom: Parents must be prepared to talk to their kids about school shootings. here are tips on how. Idaho Capital Sun. 2022.
37 Li, Jones & Livingston, Kelly. Teachers face mental health challenges dealing with school shootings. ABC News Web site. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/teachers-face-mental-health-challenges-school-shootings/story?id=85069493. Updated 2022. Accessed Jul 11, 2022.
38 School shootings this year: How many and where. Education Week. -01-05T18:16:47.67 2022. Available from: https://www.edweek.org/leadership/school-shootings-this-year-how-many-and-where/2022/01. Accessed Jul 11, 2022.
39 Alexander, BA., Harris, H. Public School Preparedness for School Shootings: A Phenomenological Overview of School Staff Perspectives. School mental health. 2020;12(3):595-609. doi:10.1007/s12310-020-09369-8
40 Li & Livinson (2022)
41 Violence against educators and school personnel: Crisis during COVID. American Psychological Association. 2022. https://www.apa.org/education-career/k12/violence-educators.pdf.
42 Walker, T. Violence, threats against teachers, school staff could hasten exodus from profession | NEA. https://www.nea.org/advocating-for-change/new-from-nea/violence-threats-against-teachers-school-staff-could-hasten. Updated 2022b. Accessed Aug 14, 2022.
43 Garcia & Weiss (2020)
44 Maslow (1943)
45 Mcleod (2022)
46 Garcia & Weiss (2020)
47 Noonoo (2022)
48 Ibid.
49 Wang, H., Bellamy, L. Parents protest masks in rallies outside warwick schools. Times Herald-Record. February 16, 2022. Available from: https://www.recordonline.com/story/news/2022/02/16/warwick-rally-against-mask-mandate-schools/6811872001/. Accessed August 14, 2022.
50 Rahman, K. Students walk out of schools across the country over mask mandates. Newsweek Web site. https://www.newsweek.com/students-walk-out-schools-over-mask-mandates-1677954. Updated 2022. Accessed Aug 14, 2022.
51 Shivaram, D. The topic of masks in schools is polarizing some parents to the point of violence. NPR Web site. https://www.npr.org/sections/back-to-school-live-updates/2021/08/20/1028841279/mask-mandates-school-protests-teachers. Updated 2021. Accessed August 14, 2022.
52 Will (2022)
53 Crawford et al. (2021)
54 Lever et al. (2017)
55 Ibid.
56 Ibid.
57 Mcleod (2022)
58 Walker (2022a)
59 Ibid
60 Kathryn, Dill. School’s Out for Summer and Many Teachers Are Calling It Quits; Educators say they are worn down by the Covid-19 pandemic, understaffed schools and political battles. Districts warn of a worsening shortage. The Wall Street journal. Eastern edition. 2022.
61 Walker, T. Educators fight back against gag orders, book bans and intimidation | NEA. NEA | National Education Association Web site. https://www.nea.org/advocating-for-change/new-from-nea/educators-fight-back-against-gag-orders-book-bans-and-intimidation. Updated 2022c. Accessed Aug 15, 2022.
62 Garcia & Weiss (2020)
63 Ibid.
64 Staff, IE. Oklahoma bill could see teachers fined $10K and lose job for teaching anything contradicting religion. Inside Edition Web site. https://www.insideedition.com/oklahoma-bill-could-see-teachers-fined-10k-and-lose-job-for-teaching-anything-contradicting. Updated 2022. Accessed Aug 15, 2022.
65 Whitton, G. Good wants cameras in classrooms. CBS 19 News Web site. http://www.cbs19news.com/story/46976992/bob-good-wants-cameras-in-classrooms. Updated 2022. Accessed Aug 15, 2022.
66 Next, E. Cameras in the classroom. . 2022. https://www.educationnext.org/cameras-in-the-classroom-iowa-florida-lawmakers-introduce-bills/. Accessed Aug 15, 2022.
67 McShane, M. Please don’t put cameras in classrooms. Forbes Web site. https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemcshane/2022/02/14/please-dont-put-cameras-in-classrooms/. Updated 2022. Accessed Aug 15, 2022.
68 Edelman, A. Iowa bill would require cameras in public school classrooms. NBC News Web site. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/iowa-bill-require-cameras-public-school-classrooms-rcna14789. Updated 2022. Accessed Aug 15, 2022.
69 Cole, D., Burnside, T. DeSantis signs controversial bill restricting certain LGBTQ topics in the classroom. CNN Web site. https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/28/politics/dont-say-gay-bill-desantis-signs/index.html. Updated 2022. Accessed Aug 15, 2022.
70 Maslow (1943)
71 Mcleod (2022)
72 Maslow (1943)
73 Ibid.
74 Dill (2022)
75 Noonoo (2022)
76 Ibid.
77 Gray, C., Wilcox, G., Nordstokke, D. Teacher Mental Health, School Climate, Inclusive Education and Student Learning: A Review. Canadian psychology = Psychologie canadienne. 2017;58(3):203-210. doi:10.1037/cap0000117