If you're a teacher, how do the kids seem at the moment?

[JesusInTheCabbageVan]

In light of all the reports of children's mental health and development suffering during lockdown, I've been wondering about this a lot. Have you noticed a big change in the kids you teach? Was it as bad as you feared?

My DS9 seems to have come through it all more or less OK, though according to him he's currently getting told off a lot 'for no reason' so reading between the lines, he's being a bit of a PITA. Hopefully it'll settle down.

I know this sounds like a very 'journalist' post... all I can say is I promise I'm not! Been around for years and would make a crap journalist.

[dancinfeet]

Not a school teacher but a dance teacher. When the kids first returned they were all very quiet in class, it was like they had forgotten how to interact with each other. We had a lot drop out main reason being lack of interest, again it was like they had forgotten how to enjoy a structured physical activity, there was very much a can’t be arsed mentality from many and motivating them to do the most basic stuff was really hard so am sure that’s because their mental health was not in a good place, and they were struggling to get through the school day never mind having extra curricular after school as well. With the students who have managed to stick out their dance activity I’m seeing a new enthusiasm- they are excited about planned activities (exams, shows, performances etc) and it’s like they have learnt not to take these things for granted and to enjoy every moment. The only downside is when a student tests positive and has to miss an event due to Covid, sometimes after putting weeks of practice in, but overall we are just glad to be able them these opportunities again as working in class with no particular goal last year was hard on all of them.