To think it's not normal for over 35% of teachers to have cried at work this term?

[Postapocalypticcowgirl]

Whenever we talk about teacher working conditions, teacher strikes etc on here people always point out that lots of others have really stressful jobs. But this can't be normal in any job, surely? It's not even people who've cried about work- just people who've cried at work.

I think this is really indicative of the stress a lot of teachers are under, and the real reason a strike is on the cards. But it's hard to strike about workload/stress/behaviour/parental and SLT expectations- whereas striking over pay is legally straightforward.

On the bright side

I now have a full Bingo card.

You are spot on here and it worries me no end 😐

please quote evidence about chain academies only having teachers under 30
oh wait - there isn’t any

except that wasn't what was said, was it?

If you spent some time in the average school these days you would see that there is a dearth of staff over the age of 30/35 because once people have young families, the job becomes untenable. Equally, older staff are more expensive and have been bullied/pushed/shoved out of their roles since austerity began in 2010. It's anecdotal, I agree, but it is certainly my experience and the experience of many teachers I speak with who have come from different schools locally. The issue that poses is that younger staff - the ones who are more likely to be crying in their roles because they don't yet have the experience to handle the more difficult situations that occur on a daily basis - are left unsupported because of the sheer lack of experience in the average staff team. It used to be the case that a school staff would be made up of every age from 21 to 65 but today, the under 30s very much dominate. It's not a positive thing for teaching and learning for it to be like this.

I agree. Sad as it is!

The op itself implies that teaching has it worst. That is what people are responding to. That's what sets the tone.

If the op had wanted a teachers rant thread they probably shouldn't have posted

teacher strikes etc on here people always point out that lots of others have really stressful jobs. But this can't be normal in any job, surely?

And if teachers (or anyone) genuinely want things to improve they have to explore the reasons why 35 % are allegedly crying at work and why others perceive teaching as they do.

The unions reactions to covid has irreparably damaged the reputation of teachers imo.

I'm sorry teachers are having a hard time but why on MN is it always teachers complaining about conditions? You don't see any other workforce complaining so much , I've cried a lot at work recently.

I'm ten years into teaching and still cry a few times a year at work! Usually after parents evening with a difficult parent (there's always one). Also at home when it gets to 11pm and I'm still up marking and all I want to do is go to bed.

Funnily enough I never cried once when I taught abroad so must be something to do with the UK education system.

Interestingly, we are back to the misinformation about teaching unions during covid.

And if teachers (or anyone) genuinely want things to improve they have to explore the reasons why 35 % are allegedly crying at work and why others perceive teaching as they do.

And we would still get the usual answers. Its that circular discussion you were bleating on about earlier.

I don't think teachers have to bother (that much) about how others perceive them. They just have to do what they need to do to improve the conditions in their profession and bear the flak for it.
Public opinion (to a certain extent) means naff all.

@FrippEnos

If you're not actually interested in non teachers bleating on then why bother engaging?

@Florenz the irony is the teachers have been resigning on mass, and there's no one to replace them. It's already happening and there's been no improvement in the pay or conditions! We've had job interviews this week in a nice school and we had one candidate turn it down, another two drop out last minute. No one wants the job. It's like that for every job advert. We are having to have non specialists teach (even at A level) or move the timetable around to accomodate gaps where there isn't a teacher. Sadly it's some of the best teachers that end up quitting or retiring early so the pool of inexperienced or poor teachers becomes bigger making the situation even worse.

I must have missed the memo, what's the perception of teacher unions during COVID?

@MytummydontjigglejiggleItfolds

It matters a bit. It matters to all public sector workers who work with the public.

The job is always easier if people respect what you do.

This kind of drivel doesn’t help children one bit either 🤨

You once again misunderstand me.

I have little interest in you bleating with your whataboutery and mis-information, but am quite happy to correct your mis-information.

@FrippEnos

Yeah that makes no sense.

If you weren't interested you wouldn't care either way.

I havent posted any misinformation so I'm not sure what you think you're correcting

If your not sure what you are posting maybe you should read it through before you post.

I realise I am risking criticism by saying this on a parenting forum, but the main problem with teaching is parents. Parents who refuse to discipline their children, parents who complain about their child’s human rights (ie when they have phones confiscated or are issued with detention.) The many, many lovely parents have lovely children and it would be a joy to teach them. Unfortunately, our selfish, rude and entitled society has produced offspring that are almost unreachable.

I know lots of hospital support staff, catering HCAs etc who cry with frustration and the way they are spoken to by Nurses etc. They are on £9.50 an hour. The lack of Staff means that soup and sandwiches are all that's available. We are heading for a crisis across all sectors.

@FrippEnos

Can you quote and then correct the misinformation?

I have been mulling of the reasons I have cried at work over the past year.

Without a doubt, the main reason I have cried have been the feeling of failure every day. That I cannot do my job to the best of my ability due to barriers in the way.

I pride myself on being a successful teacher who gets to know the children in my care very well. I am great at pastoral support and ensuring all children make progress. This gives me a real sense of achievement and makes the hours at home working more worthwhile.

However, over the past few years I have had massive classes, children unsupported who have significant needs. Children who need 1:1 support to academically access lessons but have no support, children who have major anxiety issues and need support to access lessons, children who have no English and need support to access the lessons, plus a multitude of other children who all need support in different ways. I cannot split myself enough and this leaves me to feel like I'm failing because the children don't have the support to access the learning.

I teach Year 2 and the fact the government made our Y2 children last year who have not known a normal year in school do the phonic screening in the autumn term and sit SATs in the summer term was horrific.

Teachers want to do the best for their children and we currently can't. That would be the reason I would leave teaching.

I'm not saying I have it worse than other occupations. I'm sharing reasons personal to me and my experiences.

I get there are harder professions out there, I've had several different jobs over the past 15 years.
Wouldn't say education is my hardest role, but it's definitely one of the more difficult. I've cried this half term, and to be honest, the biggest reason for my tears, and a few of my closest colleagues, is the expectations. The ones we have for ourselves, the ones SLT have, the ones our direct colleagues have, the ones the children have, the ones the parents have and the expectations that the academy have. Some days it can be crushing, it's exhausting (this half term has been the most exhausting I've worked EVER) and you can't help but feel that you're failing someone somewhere.

Topgub · Yesterday 21:40

"There's literally teachers on this thread saying its the hardest job"

One teacher, who said it was the hardest job that they have done. Not that it was the hardest job.

But you do you

I agree, I have never cried over the rudeness of a child but parents yes, from the total lack of responsibility and support to actual naked aggression.

Oh for gods sake

🤣🤣