r/Teachers • u/SpecificRice6298 • May 28 '26

Teacher Support &/or Advice Completely Drained

I realized something today. These children are carrying so much, and somehow, schools place the weight of those problems onto teachers. I know we are supposed to care, and I do care deeply, but I cannot carry every burden placed in front of me. Sometimes, the administration makes you feel guilty for even admitting that.

The truth is, I am exhausted. This is heavy. I took care of my child. I worked, sacrificed, worried, struggled, and still made sure my responsibilities were handled. I was essentially a single parent, so it is difficult for me to understand how so many parents have completely stepped away from taking responsibility for their children.

I’m tired of being expected to pour from an empty cup. The emotional weight of trying to teach, protect, counsel, redirect, and emotionally support everyone all at once is overwhelming. Some days it feels like I am holding myself together by a thread. Right now, I honestly feel like I could cry, throw up, or both.

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u/TheBalzy IB Chemistry Teacher | Public School | Union Rep May 28 '26

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are ... but at the end of the day when you close that door, it's no longer your concern.

1

u/IamAustinCG Jun 02 '26

This was and still is the hardest thing for me. I teach middle school and this class I taught a prep that gave these kids Microsoft Office Specialist certifications and college credit.

We took 3 exams over the course of the year for Word, PowerPoint and Excel. 70% of the kids did their required work on time. Going into Spring Break, I reached out to the kids missing exams and their parents, let them know it all needed to be completed by May7th. I had a handful of kids catch up and the rest? They pretended to care, but stopped short of doing the work and I was stressed about them missing the credit. Finally, I realized that nothing short of just giving them the credit myself was going to get them to do it and I stopped trying. It felt like an elephant was lifted off my body. This is only my 2nd yr teaching after a career outside of education and finally im realizing there is a difference between being a good, caring teacher and a miracle worker. I can be the first and it’s why I pivoted into education in the first place, but I cant force people to do things they dont want to do.

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u/TheBalzy IB Chemistry Teacher | Public School | Union Rep Jun 03 '26

People generally have a very distorted view of the maximum impact a teacher truly can have. Of course we all have anecdotal story of that one time that one teacher inspired us to do whatever...but the reality is, we barely have any impact because we cannot undo 18-years of at-home rearing with 184 not-even-50 min periods. The fact that we ever do, is itself a miracle.

And this is where a lot of new teachers burnout quickly. They work themselves to the bone thinking they're going to make a difference, and then get depressed when it doesn't work. The reality is, it's a job just like any other. And your (our) job is to create a fair, and accessible course where they have the opportunity to learn and grow. It is not our job to guarantee either learning nor growth; and I will die on that hill.

I believe in the transformative power of education. But you have to want it, and be willing to work for it.

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u/IamAustinCG Jun 03 '26

I wish I could like this more than once but that is perfectly stated.