I need to report this to school don't I?

[Cinnamonlozenges]

One of DS's teachers has talked to the class about her mental health. She had told them she was struggling a bit, then in one lesson they were left to read (own books, not the subject) and told not to tell other teachers.

Sounds like a young teacher over sharing and needing some help.

I wouldn't be particularly concerned at that age that she's said she's struggling with mental health (depending on how it was said - I can imagine both appropriate and inappropriate ways to mention that to Year 9 pupils). I would be very concerned about her asking the children to keep something from the school/ other teachers.

No problem talking about MH, BIG problem behaving in a way that SHE deems bad enough to ask the class to keep secret. That’s appalling and models really bad behaviour to the class. I’d speak to the school (kindly).

Oh dear. Asking the children to keep secrets is a huge red flag. Report.

A teacher did that to us in the late 80s.

The rest of the whole of our school experience consisted of the boys tormenting her until she left.

It is never a good sign.

Yes and I agree that with you

In no way should she be telling the children to keep it a secret. That’s the issue.

Really unfair on the kids and when you start to make them keep secrets it opens up other types of abuse (I’m not saying she is like this but it can’t be a precedent where teachers can ask pupils to keep secrets).

If it's a pattern and is affecting their learning it might be time to say something.

If it was a one-off I would let it go. I remember our business studies teacher telling us she had a vicious hangover and we should just copy out the pages on business rates and leave her in peace - teenagers can be understanding of these things up to a point.

I was just asking because your first year teaching is an absolute nightmare.

It's 3 lessons thar we know off that have been affected.

Logically there must be others. Its doubtful she taught full lessons before or straight after those three.
Its also doubtful she's only off loading onto one class.

She needs to take some time off. And deal with her MH issues.

No teacher should be dumping their issues onto teenagers. You’re the responsible adult in the room and they are young and potentially vulnerable. They’re not your friends - it’s very different being open about mental health issues to colleagues but never to students.

This us unhealthy and needs reporting. If she can’t manage, she needs to be signed off. If she needs a quiet lesson, there are loads of appropriate subject based activities she can set where learning can take place without dumping on the class.

Totally inappropriate and oversharing. Completely fine to discuss mental health issues with teens and tell them about experiences though. But not when you are mid crisis. Year 9 are very impressionable and whilst some won't be phased by this some will be deeply affected and others will use it as an opportunity to exert control over the teacher.

Please report. I would think teacher is in a bad place if oversharing to this extent and might need some help.

Changed name as this is outing.

This could have been me, before I got out of teaching.
I'd not have told the children that I was having problems with mental health, but did have days (more than one, towards the end when I was both anorexic and self-harming badly) when, despite me being an Ofsted-approved 'outstanding' teacher, I was so unwell that I let the class free-read/ free-write/other creative thing that I could get some enthusiasm to deliver.

I didn't realise I was ill. Teaching caused the illness. Headteacher, upthread it's bloody unworkable stress that's doing it. Having to plan each lesson in detail, submit the plans then mark every single piece of work, every single day because 'ofsted wants it'.

It equated to an hour's prep for each 50 minute lesson, then an hour's marking (because of our marking policy and spot-checks there were no short cuts).

That's for 5 lessons a day. The may=ths doesn't work. You were always working 'short', on catch up. Then we were expected to run clubs in lunchtimes and after school.

I'm glad you got out@xteac that sounds difficult.

I feel bad for the teacher, no matter how understanding the school is a parent reporting concerns would be stressful I am sure. Having thought it over it does feel necessary though.

@xteac that sounds so tough I hope you're happier now.

Yup that's teaching. There were long periods of time when I was doing 80 hour weeks just to do the job.

If your child has told you other children will be telling their parents too
I imagine this will eventually filter back to school
here this would be all over our fb page ( we have fb pages for each year group) and would definitely get picked up by the senior teachers
you may not need to do anything

This is absolutely not ok for the reasons others have already said. As an additional point, statistically there will be several children with SEN in any class and my child with SEN would be so frightened if a teacher told them this. As they are very rule focused they probably would keep the secret but would be scared.