Across social media, it can feel like everyone is leaving teaching.
The stories are real, and heartbreaking. Burnout. Unresponsive leadership. A system that stretched brilliant people beyond their limits. These experiences matter. They deserve to be heard.
But lately, there’s a quiet question that keeps surfacing:
If everyone leaves… who will be left to teach our children?
The Hidden Costs of “Just Leave”
Leaving teaching is sometimes framed as the only escape. And for some, it truly is the healthiest and most courageous decision.
But when a teacher walks away, the workload doesn’t disappear. It shifts, to the next person. And the cycle continues:
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Bigger class sizes
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Fewer specialists
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More pressure
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Less space to breathe
The very system that drove teachers out grows heavier for those who remain.
Before They Left – What Did They Try?
Most teachers don’t walk away on a whim. They reach their limit. Some are ignored. Others are bullied. Many are pushed by leaders who see data before people.
But here’s a perspective we rarely hear: What support or strategies were tried before the exit?
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Did they set boundaries?
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Challenge the culture of overwork?
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Seek change in a different school?
If we’re only ever told “just leave,” then maybe we’ve never been shown what staying well could look like.
Staying Isn’t Weak – It’s Brave
We need to talk more about the teachers who stay, and actively create change.
The ones who:
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Say no to unrealistic expectations
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Build community over competition
Staying doesn’t have to mean accepting things as they are.
Sometimes, it’s about making the most of your PPA time or challenging expectations in small, consistent ways.
And that is real leadership.
The System Must Change – But It Won’t If We All Leave
Let’s be honest: no individual teacher can fix an underfunded, overburdened system. But systemic change won’t come if everyone who wants something better is gone.
Every teacher who:
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Challenges unfair expectations
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Sets a healthier pace
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Shares teacher wellbeing resources
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Speaks up rather than silently burning out…
…is part of the quiet revolution we need.
You Can Reclaim Your Life Without Leaving Teaching
You don’t have to walk away to take back your time.
Sometimes, you just need:
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Scripts to say no with kindness
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Permission to stop overgiving
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A team that gets it
That’s the work we do at PPA Buddy. We help you teach sustainably, without losing yourself in the process.
Final Thought
You don’t have to leave teaching to love your life again. You can reclaim your time and energy – right where you are.
And when you do, you’re not just helping yourself.
You’re showing other teachers that it’s possible.
You’re making it easier for the next person to draw the line, speak up, and stay well.
Sometimes the bravest thing you can do… is stay.
💡 Ready to create a more sustainable rhythm?
Download your free copy of our Teacher Wellbeing Toolkit and start protecting your time today.