A sense of crisis in public schools is helping to make teaching a stressful occupation. Prospective teachers should develop the capacity to cope with the institution as it changes to meet societal demands. They should have the ability to analyze problems and choose appropriate coping mechanisms. A positive outlook on teaching, with the support of colleagues, is essential. Developing outside interests can act as a hedge against burnout. The ability to recognize one's own coping strategies, whether they are positive or negative, is also important. Teacher education programs can alleviate teacher stress by adequately preparing beginning teachers for their roles. This includes providing accurate role exploration and definitions, supplying stress situations under laboratory conditions in student teaching, and helping the prospective teacher deal with structured and unstructured situations through simulations. (FG)