To feel so sorry for DDs teacher

[maryrichardson]

DDs teacher cried today

She's a lovely woman. She apologised to the class and said she was very stressed.

I want to hug her.

Would a box of chocolates be inappropriate or would it come across badly?

*on Friday

Any gift if someone has been upset is lovely. Teachers are very stressed right now with reports and data to get in. I have felt like just leaving the class to it once this week but somehow I battled through. A gesture like some chocolates would be much appreciated.

Chocolates would be a very kind gesture. I’m welling up in sympathy for stressed colleagues.

Just as I was starting to relax, the head has decided to wind us all up for the next year’s exam groups. He didn’t do this last year. There are meetings planned, schemes of work to write for next year, a student teacher to observe, write up reports for, an NQT to sign off, orders to make so we have equipment for September. There are also many end of year exams to administer, mark and then we have to upload the results onto the system. I’m also packing up 13 years of stuff and moving on. I haven’t cried today, but my student teacher did.

Had to mop up a colleague today and nearly set me off to be honest - buy choc by all means, but a nice message of appreciation in an email or card is actually one of the nicest things you can get. It reminds teachers of why they do it and that we ‘are in it together’. But yes to the odd mars bar too.

Am a teacher. I've managed not to cry in front of pupils for 18 yrs (apart from when I left my last school!)
I don't know how I've done it as it's too hard sometimes.
We are under immense pressure and your idea sounds perfect. How kind you are to notice / care about others feelings ☺

Honestly, reading this makes me so glad I got out of teaching; so sure it was the right decision; but also so, so sad that what used to be, and could be, an amazing and fulfilling vocation, has turned into such a stressful and thankless job.

Talented teachers are leaving, right and centre. For the ones who remain, the children make it all worthwhile and a note of thanks means the absolute world.

*My BIL wasn't impressed said she was burdening DN. I told Dsis to calm him down and imagine how distressed she must have been to tell one if her students that.

To be honest I can see where he is coming from but I hope he's not planning on complaining? I'd be quietly pissed off but wouldn't dream of saying anything and would be sure to try and be extra supportive. DS's TA was crying in the car after work the other day.

I would be worried about a teacher confiding in a student like that, and hugging her alone isn’t appropriate either

I do sympathise enormously with the teacher but potentially she’s in trouble.

Worried about my DD's teacher. Apparently he "shouts" all the time ...Poor guy... as if having 30 9 year olds day after day isn't difficult enough

Sorry, but I feel more sorry for the kids being shouted at. For any kids in the class who are struggling anyway, that must be making them feel really shit about themselves and about learning. They have no choice but to go into that aggressive environment where the adult in charge of them is taking out his stress on them. If he really can't cope with the job he needs to leave. Those kids don't deserve that.

I think that's a lovely idea, what a nice person you are.

How old is the niece who offered the teacher a hug? Teenaged, I'm assuming? that teacher must have been desperately upset to confide in her, but if they have a good relationship I don't think there's anything wrong with it really. I gave my English teacher a kiss on the cheek once.

@BrutusMcDogface I remember doing the same with a teacher in high school. Her husband had left her and she was pregnant, you could see her hanging on by the skin of her teeth.

She said that cuddle meant the world to her. I couldn't imagine ever grassing a teacher up for that! Or anything else for that matter.

for all the teachers. I don't envy your job in the slightest. X

Out of teaching nearly a year ... thank god.

There is so much pressure and bullying (from management).

A little gesture would've meant the world to me. Do it

Teacher here.

I spent a large portion of last year crying in my cupboard over a challenging class - academically, rather than behavioural, and it just felt like an insurmountable mountain to climb. I spent a lot of the year beating myself up ( and crying) over 2 SEN pupils who I felt I was not doing enough for. At the end of the year, both sets of parents wrote me beautiful cards/letters thanking me for the effort I’d put in and telling how much their chn’s confidence had grown whilst in my care. I sobbed for a different reason.

Those kind words, and rare thanks, meant more to be than any gift I’ve been given during my teaching career. A card with some kind words might be all that teacher needs.

My niece was in year 9 at the time....so 14 yo. Tbh she's always been very caring, intuitive and sensitive.

She said the teacher said she really needed the hug and was so grateful she'd noticed she was upset.

One of her primary school teachers still keeps in touch with her and says she's the kindest pupil she's ever taught.

BIL didn't complain...as I did persuade Dsis to reign him in. It must have been so hard seeing children all around you...and having fertility issues.

She's only human and compassion goes a long way.

Teachers ...by and large do a good job. It's not easy with the pressures...along with cuts left right and centre.

It sounds like a lovely idea. Most Teachers deserve a medal it is sad the job is so stressful.

I hope it would not worry her, the parents knowing she got upset, Although I'm sure she is allowed to be upset.

My class are very challenging behaviourally this year. I haven't cried, but I do get home and swear vent about it all to DH after work daily.

A colleague who knows how difficult they can be surprised me with a box of chocolates today, which I was touched about.