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.

Only 35%? With a previous HT we had staff members crying daily. Thankfully our new HT is human and lovely. It helps that she worked with us years ago in another post. It is a much happier environment.
However, the small budget (not HT's fault) means few support staff. We have increasingly difficult pupils ending up on our roll and it is getting to the point that it is dangerous in some situations. That is making us cry. It is very stressful and frustrating.

Good to see that the usual "teachers think that they have the (insert whatever of your choice here)" suspects are on the thread.

And lets be honest no teacher has ever thought that they had the hardest/most stressful whatever jobs. Its always said by people trying to denigrate teachers.

Why do you think that?
As an ex teacher who got out and saw that the grass IS greener, the problem is the government and the dysfunctional system they impose on teachers. Couple that with a lovely dose of disrespect from the media, the public in genersal and the many, many aggressive parents, it really is no wonder that

@FrippEnos

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

...posted too soon...so many teachers cry.
It's also not a good thing that this is rife in other professions.

@Topgub
Where?

if you can quote them directly as saying that they have the hardest job then I will agree.

That doesn't include hearsay or posters twisting words.

This sadly doesn’t surprise me. I spent half a day today at my kids’ school and felt partly amazed by the teachers and partly sad at what I was witnessing. They had zero support and very challenging behaviour in classes, kids who clearly needed 1-1 support but also tasks that were just unsuitable for some children eg give 6 year olds gummy bears to measure them and then expect that none of them would eat them.
expecting 6 and 7 year olds to sit for prolonged amounts of time and wait patiently, take turns etc. Not much enthusiasm or joy but just massive focus on behaviour management underpinned by behavioural theory of positive reinforcement and ignoring bad behaviour. Not really much say for children in what they want to learn, how they want to learn, do they need to move… but that’s the uk education system and it could be worse I suppose. But I was also full of admiration as the vast majority of children did respond well and learnt a lot today but a tiny minority were having a horrible day which would just further impact negatively on their self worth.

I’ve read the whole thread and I have seen teachers listing the things they find hard, but unless I’ve missed it, I haven’t seen anyone saying that it’s the hardest or most stressful job.

@FrippEnos

Pumpkinelvis page 6.

Hardest job I've ever had.

I cba scrolling back further but there's more. If not outright saying it, heavily implying it.

Parents don't know how hard it is.

Yes, Other jobs have it hard but....

Other jobs are stressful but

Teachers do and face (insert stressful situations that Other jobs also do and face)

If nurses posted about crying they'd be supported... (I can guarantee you the thread would have a similar split of support and meh me too)

It is not good for anyone to be crying at work due to stress, burnout etc and I think there is a lot of minimising of this on here.

However crying at work due to a difficult / sensitive situation is very different, my recent well up moments involved CSA and a very poorly baby (two separate situations).

There is no differentiation in the survey figure, but a stressful job, difficult situations and, currently for most, a stressful personal life (CoL crisis etc) is a perfect storm for things to become too much.

No one is saying teachers have it worst but, if the police get abused, they can arrest the person. If nurses and Dr's get abused they can phone the police/refuse to treat. If teachers get abused, it's just part of the job and they're told their behaviour management is what's wrong.

I had a mental breakdown as a teacher. I was verbally abused daily by teenagers twice the size of me, but that was par for the course. The thing that pushed me off the edge was the 2 16 Yr old boys I had been working with tirelessly all year to try and help them get their grades up in my lunch times, decide they would lock me in my classroom and attempt to sexually assault me. When I went to SLT I was told 'boys will be boys'. I pumeted into a depression and couldn't get out of bed for a month. I couldn't face going back to that school or teaching knowing that I had 0 support. When my colleagues finally convinced me into a small leaving do (knowing the state I had been in), one of them berated me for being signed off for so long as they'd had to pick up some of my lessons and said that 'some people just aren't cut out for teaching'. Up until that day, I had been applauded for my teaching and always had 'excellent' in lesson observations and annual reviews.

50% of the people on my PGCE had left teaching by their 5th year, so I know my experience isn't unusual.

Topgub

So page 6
"Hardest job I've ever had."

So not the hardest job, and referenced to that poster.

As for the rest, teachers have not said that its the hardest job.

And its interesting that instead of sympathising with teachers you and others use hyperbole to twist the thread from that it is not ok that so many teachers have cried at work and something should be done about it to well others cry at work so its ok.

None of which say that teaching is " the hardest job" just that it is hard!

Yes this was my point too but others didn't seem to understand it.

I have no doubt that teachers have a stressful job, I have many friends who are teachers so I know it is and they work very hard. But, they work very hard in short bursts of 6 or so weeks, interspersed with 1 week, 2 week and 5-6 week long breaks. That's unique to other professions. Most others that are equally stressful and busy have to work like this continuously with only occasional holidays, often very spread apart and no where near the amount of days holiday. It is so, so difficult working flat out with what seems like no end.

I think saying it’s the hardest job you’ve personally done is pretty different. It’s not actually the hardest job I’ve done (washing up for 10-11 hour shifts was harder for me), but I’m sure it could be the hardest job someone’s done. It doesn’t mean it’s the hardest job full stop.

Saying it is a stressful job is not the same as saying it’s the most stressful. Sorry, but I’m really sick of people acting like teachers “literally say” it’s the hardest job. It’s like we can never talk about the things that are difficult, or defend ourselves against people saying “you’re not special” apropos of nothing, without someone saying we’re “literally” saying it’s the hardest.

@pumpkinelvis Isn't a teacher anymore, they're a psychologist. As an ex teacher they made a comment that for them it was the hardest job they've done. Are people not allowed to share that they found it difficult when comparing to other jobs?

It'd odd to me that teachers are so defensive about this, to the point they deny it when it's undeniable.

Of course are allowed to and should share their experiences. If they think its the hardest job ever, tell everyone.

Just dont then deny that happens

🤷‍♀️

Ok, I mean you said there’s literally teachers saying it’s the hardest job, and then your only actual example was an ex teacher saying it was the hardest job they had personally done. So… 🤷‍♀️

OldManEmu I am so sorry that you experienced that and then that your colleagues and SLT were so unsupportive.

That is a major issue in many sectors - unsupportive management, I was physically attacked whilst working in the NHS and my manager pretty much told me off for not doing more.

No one is denying that some teachers say it's the hardest job they've ever had. But sharing their personal opinion isn't the same thing as saying teaching is the hardest job.

@FrippEnos

Doing a bit of twisting there yourself.

The job is undoubtedly stressful and difficult and no one should hate their job so much its making them cry on a routine basis.

I'm sure it's multi factoral.

I cried today. I am a teacher.

@Whinge

Isn't it?