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.

Especially in AIBU there’s a tendency to rush in and give the OP a kicking regardless of what is being said.

I’m not surprised other professions don’t often start threads on here talking about their working conditions.

Oh no, not train signal, I means a level crossing person. I see a man (it usually is) in his little hut on one I use often. He spins something to bring the gates down and once the train has gone by, spins it back to raise them up again.

There are countless threads on medical services.

About how shite they are. How incompetent the staff are. How lazy they are.

Same for schools, not sure what your point is?

Not at all surprised. I still childmind for teachers and have done for some years. More than one has broken down in tears when they come to pick the child up, particularly when OFSTED is due.

Teaching/teachers are no more important than any other profession. However, the pandemic did show us that the ability of schools to function safely and stay open (or not) not only has a profound effect on children's mental health- it also enables people in other jobs to actually go to work. Just as people are becoming iller or unnecessarily dying because of the state of the NHS, I think we all need to be very concerned that schools are hemorrhaging staff and are unable to appoint. This is particularly the case with support staff who can earn more working in a supermarket. Kids are not always getting the support they need, schools are not always safe and in extreme cases they've had to temporarily close classes due to staff illness/shortage. The mental health of staff in schools literally affects all of us - our children's wellbeing and our ability to earn a living. At the end of the day, schools are childcare or respite for a lot of folk.

Very very few teachers imply this. The majority are trying to raise awareness of the situation in schools and get accused of saying their job is harder than others.

Education is hugely important for national strength, so teachers are far more important strategically than e.g. hairdressers or Batista's.

*baristas

The article I posted points out rather well that if child mental health is becoming more troubling and on the increases then teachers' mental health will also suffer in trying to combat this. It also points out that there is very little to no formal school based mental health support in the teaching profession. Just expected to tough it out really.

Manned level crossings? Blimey! Where do you live? The 1950s ?

I think, GinJeanie, while I appreciate the well-meaning sentiment of your post, it completely ignores the actual purpose of schools, which is not childcare, respite, or to support children's mental health. It is to educate children, and teachers are the frontline in that endeavour.

An educated population is vital to economic growth, among other things, which is something that seems to have completely passed this government by.

@noblegiraffe I completely agree with you! I've taught for nearly 30 years and work in a SEN school . I was trying to get through to those not in education who want to minimise/a race to the bottom that they can't go to work if (primary/SEN) schools in particular aren't open.
I don't agree with it but some people (hopefully a minority) only think about us when we inconvenience them e.g. striking leading to school closure and inconvenience/not being able to go to work. Otherwise, I guess they think we should put up and shut up. Apologies if you (understandably) misunderstood my post. Not really aimed at fellow teachers I guess.

Ah I see, GinJeanie. Being a secondary teacher, there was a constant focus on schools being essential to enable people to work, by which they meant primary and SEN, and secondary schools were totally overlooked. When there was the push for schools to return in June 2020, the focus was on how best to get people back to work (so some whole year groups returned in primary while others got nothing), rather than how best to support their education (e.g. all pupils returning for shorter periods). Secondaries got basically left out of that discussion because we don't function as childcare.

So I perhaps have more of an aversion to the 'schools enabling parents to work' approach over an 'education is important' approach than I would have done previously.

@noblegiraffe - I completely understand. Secondary schools have a huge responsibility to prepare and educate children and young people and you had an incredibly raw deal (and increased workload!) during the pandemic, particularly with the exams fiasco.
Meanwhile, the Government was obviously panicking about how to keep the workforce operating. It's an infuriating standpoint but I guess the pandemic made me realise how important schools are to the infrastructure really. It feels like WAY too much responsibility in many ways, as we have to provide a rounded, high-quality education for the kids AND enable their parents/carers to work (in the case of those with younger or SEN kids In particular). As an SEN teacher, we also provide respite in some cases. We literally have parents who need their child to be in school so they can sleep (as their child doesn't and keeps them up at night). We also have parents who have little support from social care and whose mental health is through the floor. It's a lot.

I genuinely don't know how staff in special schools cope.

I'm not a teacher and I think I've probably been reduced to tears at least once in most places I've worked. I should think it fairly common.
That said, I do think teaching is an undervalued and stressful job.

At least once in most places you've worked is nowhere near the 1/3rd of teachers in a 6-7 week period though, is it?
(Unless you are moving jobs every 18 weeks?)

@Piggywaspushed

I wouldn’t bother with that poster. I gave up responding to them because they are obviously getting jollies by having a go at people. They aren’t arguing in good faith.

Me?

I'm assuming not!

TeacherTapp is certainly in a gloomy mood. Yesterday they asked about burnout.

65% of respondents said they were feeling burnt out , including 10% who feel they need help and feel like they cannot continue. That is high. Only 4% said they have no feelings at all of burnout.

Phew. I was concerned that our conversation about my career dreams have caused offence. 😂