As the government continues to focus on student achievement, teachers whose classes frequently underperform are increasingly coming under scrutiny. While some have blamed the quality of the teachers, new research is suggesting that the stresses that educators deal with on the job may actually affect student performance.

According to scientists from the Texas Institute for Evaluation, Measurement and Statistics at the University of Houston, the stresses that teachers face could affect their pupils. The study's authors suggest that if an educator is frequently stressed, it could hinge on their effectiveness in the classroom.

The researchers also noted that it appeared as though middle school teachers faced the most stresses with their jobs. Although there is pressure to ensure that students perform well on standardized tests, the study indicates that it is the behavior of the pupils that can actually bring great stress to an educator.

"For students, it's a time of adolescence and many changes developmentally, and that is going to affect the dynamics of learning, as well as the social relationships and climate in the classroom," said Teresa McIntyre, the study's lead author. "It's going to affect the teachers as well."

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