Stress in schools: An organizational perspective

Abstract Over the past 25 years, there has been much research into the nature of stress in schools. These data have allowed an analysis of this difficult problem, although much of what has been done has focused on the individual teacher, at the expense of a more organizational view. This paper describes a study of stress in schools which develops this organizational perspective; it reports on the nature of stress in schools and on likely strategies suggested by teachers for the better management of stressful situations. The strategies suggested during the study related to the school as an organization, and did not focus on the individual teacher. The adoption of a systems approach by the authors provided an interesting vehicle for modelling the problems faced within schools, and allowed the health of the school to be considered alongside the health of its teachers. By its very nature, it argued strongly for a comprehensive programme of stress management in schools, and against simple unitary or ‘band aid’ approaches to this important issue.