Lack of School Supplies, Materials and Resources as an Elementary Cause of Frustration and Burnout in South Texas Special Education Teachers

Project Innovation, Inc. P.O. Box 8508 Spring Hill Station, Mobile, AL 36689-0508. Tel: 251-343-1878; Fax: 251-343-1878; Web site: http://www.projectinnovation.biz/jip.html

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Financial Support; Special Education; Teacher Burnout; Special Education Teachers; Teaching Conditions; Labor Turnover; Teacher Persistence; Instructional Materials; Resource Materials; Resource Allocation

0094-1956

The research in this article examined an often neglected, but nevertheless equally important, factor in the burnout and attrition rate of special education teachers. This factor was a lack of school supplies, materials and resources. This shortage was largely due to a constant "tug-of-war" with regular education personnel for the same resources. The purpose of this study was to ascertain if the condition of lack of proper supplies, materials and resources for the special education teacher existed in the Texas public schools of Region II. Further, it was intended that the attitudes of the teachers should be examined in relation to their perceptions of federal financial support. The results of the 228 respondents in the South Texas schools of Region II were consistent with studies of special educators across the nation. Individuals interviewed personally indicated that the lack of sufficient supplies, coupled with the necessity of using out-of-pocket money in order to accomplish their teaching tasks caused a high degree of frustration which, in some teachers, led to burnout. Thus, one valid and fairly simple solution to the high attrition rate of special education teachers would be to urge administrators to channel allotted funds to these teachers and to ensure that they have the necessary resources and administrative support in order to perform their duties. (Contains 1 chart.)

ERIC

10

2007

EJ764663