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Abstract
AN EXPLORATION OF SOURCES OF STRESS AMONG BAND DIRECTORS IN GEORGIA: A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY
by
ARTHUR WRIGHT, III
(Under the Direction of Alison Farley)
ABSTRACT
Band directors experience different work environments compared to those of their traditional teaching counterparts, having to manage, coach, and instruct an increased number of students and work in ever changing environments outside of normal school hours (Abril & Bannerman, 2014). Although music educators experience both school and school district level factors that impact music programs and experiences on the job, they often fail to grasp a broader understanding of individual stressors that they experienced in K-12 settings. Currently, studies examine burnout in conjunction with job satisfaction for educators in a traditional school format (Woestman & Wasonga, 2015). Bridging the gap in the literature to focus on specific stressors that can be experienced will help strengthen music programs and the educators of this educational subject.
The purpose of this quantitative descriptive study was to investigate band directors’ sources of stress that lead to burnout in the State of Georgia. Because many studies appeared to focus solely on traditional school environments, it was imperative to focus on band directors due to a differing work environment that offers different challenges than those found in traditional classroom settings. To collect the quantitative data, the researcher utilized a survey, asking respondents to rate 24 statements based on a five level Likert scale. The survey questions highlighted the statements to each of the participants, with the researcher allowing a final open-ended question to determine if there was any other information the participant wanted to provide while participating in the study. The statements in the survey reflected current sources of stress found in K-12 schools and allowed the respondents to grade the statements based on a scale as originally developed by Bechen (2000). The findings indicated that band director stressors differed throughout the different education levels and band director stressors differed from suburban, urban, and rural band directors.
INDEX WORDS: Teacher Stress, Teacher Burnout, Classroom Management, Band Director Stress
by
ARTHUR WRIGHT, III
(Under the Direction of Alison Farley)
ABSTRACT
Band directors experience different work environments compared to those of their traditional teaching counterparts, having to manage, coach, and instruct an increased number of students and work in ever changing environments outside of normal school hours (Abril & Bannerman, 2014). Although music educators experience both school and school district level factors that impact music programs and experiences on the job, they often fail to grasp a broader understanding of individual stressors that they experienced in K-12 settings. Currently, studies examine burnout in conjunction with job satisfaction for educators in a traditional school format (Woestman & Wasonga, 2015). Bridging the gap in the literature to focus on specific stressors that can be experienced will help strengthen music programs and the educators of this educational subject.
The purpose of this quantitative descriptive study was to investigate band directors’ sources of stress that lead to burnout in the State of Georgia. Because many studies appeared to focus solely on traditional school environments, it was imperative to focus on band directors due to a differing work environment that offers different challenges than those found in traditional classroom settings. To collect the quantitative data, the researcher utilized a survey, asking respondents to rate 24 statements based on a five level Likert scale. The survey questions highlighted the statements to each of the participants, with the researcher allowing a final open-ended question to determine if there was any other information the participant wanted to provide while participating in the study. The statements in the survey reflected current sources of stress found in K-12 schools and allowed the respondents to grade the statements based on a scale as originally developed by Bechen (2000). The findings indicated that band director stressors differed throughout the different education levels and band director stressors differed from suburban, urban, and rural band directors.
INDEX WORDS: Teacher Stress, Teacher Burnout, Classroom Management, Band Director Stress