The purpose of this study was to examine the interpersonal stress and turnover of seven early childhood teachers, who had turnover experience due to interpersonal stress, by having in-depth interviews. It's specifically meant to listen to their storie...
The purpose of this study was to examine the interpersonal stress and turnover of seven early childhood teachers, who had turnover experience due to interpersonal stress, by having in-depth interviews. It's specifically meant to listen to their stories to have a profound understanding of the meaning of their turnover experience to lower the level of stress and the frequency of turnover to make a contribution to the qualitative development of early childhood education, as there are severe stress and frequent turnover in early childhood education institutions. An in-depth interview was conducted five times or more for four months, from November 25, 2013, to March 31, 2014.
The interpersonal stress of the early childhood teachers could be classified into three: conflicts with parents, conflicts with colleagues and conflicts with directors. In terms of conflicts with parents, the early childhood teachers were stressed out because of rude parents, their poor awareness of early childhood education or excessive interest. Also, they were under interpersonal stress due to conflicts between experienced and unexperienced teachers and between existing and new teachers. They were in trouble because of selfish and irresponsible colleagues or poor role performance of middle managers.
The conflicts with parents and colleagues were apparently stressors for the early childhood teachers, but weren't a decisive cause of turnover. Their stress became weaken as they acquired communication knowhow, and they behaved and spoke in a discreet way in order to get rid of their conflicts with colleagues. They tried to assume the responsibility for their own behavior and to understand the different disposition of their colleagues.
The participants pointed out relationship with directors as the biggest factor to affect turnover decision making. They were in conflicts with directors when the directors hurt them, when they considered them to be their servants, not teachers, when they managed educational institutions just in their own way or when they were miser. Another stressor was code of conduct. In particular, hurting or defamation of character was the most direct cause for them to leave the early childhood education institutions where they had worked.
The early childhood teachers experienced burnout and conflicts when they failed to tide over interpersonal difficulties for a long time, and that led to turnover. Early childhood teachers should be given more chances of communication to facilitate their relationship building, and the community of early childhood teachers should turn into an organization where the members approve of one another, share their ideas and work together. Directors should back them up properly with interest, and every early childhood education institution should try to create a collaborative, supportive, encouraging and educational climate and to promote a friendly relationship among every organizational member both formally and informally, which will serve, in turn, to improve their relationship, curb turnover and ultimately create a healthy organizational culture. Therefore, we need to listen in the director's shoes concerning the matter of early childhood teachers frequent turnover.