Hi everyone,
Without wanting to bore everyone with the details, just looking for some support and/or (gentle!) criticism if needed. I'm feeling very delicate and am crying so please...
I work as a teacher in a comprehensive school. Lots of challenging students in the mix. One student regularly turns up late, not in uniform, doesn't do homework etc etc. When challenged she says that she missed the b us, is cold so is wearing a coat etc etc. All year - every lesson. Before Xmas I was off for 4 weeks with a broken arm that needed an op - after this the group were needed lots of TLC (according to the head) as they 'felt abandoned' (they had a cover teacher from the dept.
Fast forward to today. Said student arrives late, no home work etc etc. Goes to a senior member of staff to say I'm not helping her enough when I ask her where her work is. At the same time I get an email from the office saying her Mum and Dad want to come in to see the head on Wednesday as they are 'sick of me always being off'.
When the senior member of staff came back with the student to say that 'she needed help', I told it pretty straight. That she might understand if she turned up, didn't disappear off for cigarettes all the time, took notes in class, brought her notebook etc.
End of the day go to see the Head about it all (me). Very upset and was met with a stony faced manager who told me that I 'needed to be more professional' and just help. I explained that I was sick of pulling people up (like the policies tell us to), only for Mum, child, etc to say we're not helping enough. I pointed out that this student has done well in her assignments etc for me.
Now home. Struggling to even breathe,. So stressed and crying and literally feel so alone and upset. I just cannot deal with this awful fucking job. Please tell me what to do with my manager, the parents etc. I'm at my wits end. Already on anti-depressants, beta blockers and diazepam just to hold it all together.