Abstract
The paper aims to find out the coping mechanisms used by teachers against the challenging environment of special schools. The subjects for the study consisted of 20 school teachers related to special schools taken from special schools of Meerut and Moradabad city. The selected teachers were in the age group 30±5 years and were having teaching experience of not less than two years in special schools. These subjects were belonging to similar educational status, that was graduation with experience in special education or they were having the required qualification for special education schools in India. The data was collected individually through comprehensive interviews of teachers of special schools after developing healthy rapport with them. The stressors related to mentally disabled children, parental expectations and support from colleagues, social response, and school environment were discussed. About this, the consequent use of coping mechanisms was also discussed. Obtained data were analyzed by two experts using content analysis and the contents in the common consensus of both experts were analyzed and discussed. The obtained results indicated that the teachers of special schools experience neglect and rejection from society, failure of efforts, negative response from parents and sometimes feeling of worthlessness. Further, it was also obtained that the teachers use emotional coping mechanisms most often to deal with the stressors of the school environment.

DIP: 18.02.003/20210602
DOI: 10.25215/2455/0602003