Teresa Preston, managing editor of Kappan magazine, summarizes how Kappan authors have addressed student and educator stress in its past issues. Stress and anxiety were not frequent topics in the magazine’s early years, but they began being covered more frequently beginning in the 1980s. Authors sought to understand the roots of student anxiety and how teachers might help students manage their feelings of stress. Some looked at the climate of schools themselves and suggested that standardized tests, a focus on ambitious goals, and increased academic content in kindergarten were causing more stress among students — and sometimes teachers. Stress in school was not limited to students, and Kappan articles considered how educators could manage their own stress.
