Many factors contribute to teacher stress and burnout including discipline problems, physical and emotional abuse of teachers, low pay, little support from superiors, public criticism of educational quality, and an almost traditional attitude of low esteem for teachers as professionals. The failings of current teacher education indicate that teachers enter the field poorly prepared to cope with the problems they will face. The development of the master teacher concept could improve the climate of schools of education as well as that of elementary and secondary schools. The thorough training required to produce a master teacher would raise the professional level of teachers and assure them of heightened self esteem and greater respect from the community and their students. The stress that is endemic in our society today affects teachers both in and out of the classroom. Specific techniques are available for identifying personal stressors and dealing with them in a practical way. (JD)