To wonder how much longer it will be before all teachers quit?

[FunionsRFun]

Been called a bitch and screamed at today. Kids are making no progress because 90% of the leason is dedicated to bad behaviour.
My detentions have been taken off the system to make behaviour look better.
Why would anyone do this job?

The Hospitality sector and the NHS experience this behaviour too but sadly do not enjoy teachers pension pots. Many of us have shitty jobs and peoples behaviour is definitely worsening. That is a fact that we cannot change. The only thing teachers can do is leave.

@DinnaeFashYersel think about it though - all the teachers with experience but worn down by behaviour and workload should leave (you suggest) and we should just have lots of teachers in their first five years of teaching, until they too become worn down by it all... Don't you think your dc might need some experienced teachers to get them through exams etc?

What worries me is that we are now beginning to see pretty extreme behaviour across early settings nationwide too. I'm on a couple of social media groups for early years practitioners and most weeks there is a post or two about behaviour changes within cohorts over the last few years, with hundreds of comments in agreement. In my setting we have had to evacuate whole classrooms or areas - unheard of before the last few years. I really don't know what is going on with society.

Many children are seeming less able to listen, understand and communicate at an age where we would expect this to be developing. They don't know how to initiate play. Many are becoming very physical towards other children or adults. Sen is on the rise but this doesn't account for even most of it. Training doesn't touch the sides of the problem and when most staff are on minimum wage and tired and fed up and short staffed it's difficult to implement.

Anyway my point is, what is school going to be like for these children and their peers if we can't get things right for them during their earliest experiences of education? There's just not enough availability from services to meet need. And it can be extremely tricky to engage and work consistently with parents. A lot of things are suddenly 'nurseries job' like potty training or learning to use an open cup etc whereas before these have always been things we've worked on together with families. And in many cases we just can't get parents on board with behaviour. They may not see it at home, or be embarrassed, or lack the capacity to consistently implement strategies in their busy lives.

Kudos to teachers - at least when I get sworn at, kicked or bitten or spat at, or, have heavy wooden toys launched at me it's by an under 5 year old.

I've been teaching 14 years and not going anywhere. In my experience, children never treat you any worse than they've been treated themselves (by their adults).

I'm sorry you had a bad day and your school sounds unsupportive. I hope you find a career you enjoy.

As well as all the behaviour issues I believe that the current national curriculum has stifled creativity within teaching. Everything is geared towards teaching to tests/what do Ofsted want to see etc.
DD came home tonight with an example of what happens when teachers are allowed freedom. They are Yr 7 currently studying Hounds of the Baskevilles in English. Some of the class were struggling with the atmosphere of a desolate moorland so the Emglish teacher tagged the whole class on to a Yr 9 Geography trip to local peat moorland. She then spent the day exploring with the class how it felt to be up on a remote moorland, the sounds, emotions etc. That whole class can now relate much better to the story and I bet that stays with them for life.
Yes I know that needs money for transport etc but putting that aside it is one tiny example of how teachers can positively impact lives if given the freedom.

Are kids really this bad? My children are young but please give me tips so they dont turn out like this!

@Sae3005 yes I think it is that bad

@erniesmilkcart It seems to be a ticking time bomb that nobody is addressing. Why are children suddenly so delayed? I see so many 2-3 year olds walking around with dummies and baby bottles of milk. At DD’s (reception) school disco rather than seeing excited children charging around to the music like I would’ve expected, most were crying at the edges of the room seemingly overwhelmed by what was supposed to be an exciting event. I just don’t get it, I’m worried about what will happen as they get older and become adults.

I’m also interested to know what we can do to raise children who will cope with the school environment and respect and listen to teachers. DD loves school and her teacher says she has no concerns about her but she’s only 4 so I’m not going to pat myself on the back yet, there’s a long way to go.

Due to retire in 11 years, don’t intend to stop any sooner.

This is my second career. I love teaching, the interaction with the students and seeing their faces when they ‘understand’. Most amazing job.

Dutch gentle parenting for a start!

*ditch!!

Model respectful behaviour towards teachers ie don't automatically believe your child over a teacter, don't slag teachers off for striking, don't take your kids out of school for a family holiday etc.
Basically pass on the value of education and respect for everyone around you.
Ultimately though (and this is controversial to some people) only send your kids to schools whereby their peers will also value education and where there is a parent cohort that supports and values education too otherwise your child will have their education disrupted by DC who don't give a shit because their parents don't give a shit.

Won't lie, I don't do gentle parenting. I'm authorative and I have felt awful about it ever since I became a parent but gentle parenting does not work for my children.

A lot of teachers feel trapped by their wages unfortunately.

I'm studying children at uni and someone mentioned there's a lack of creativity in the school? So wouldn't children benefit more with more opportunities to learn outside if the classroom? Holidays, school trips etc

Ironically there seem to be a lot of stupid people in charge.

@Isitovernow123

and seeing their faces when they ‘understand’.

This is lovely, thank you for this - long may you remain a teacher

What are you actually talking about? I’m hoping this is a tongue in cheek comment.

In at 7, leave at 5 and I work 4 days a week.

What an idiot 🤦

There is a very good reason for this - the pay is significantly higher in Scotland than in England and 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 . Competition is tough.

You’re not just a TA. You’re a very valued
member of the teacher cohort.
i teach the cream of the crop (7-9s), and those who aren’t expected to get above a grade 2. Without your support, they’d never get a decent education.

I love my job and I’m quite good at it. I’m an experienced teacher and subject lead at a primary in a very deprived area. The kids are wonderful (luckily I don’t have the issues I’ve seen described above with behaviour) but every day I’m worn down by the workload. The relentless meetings, the entitlement from parents, the expectation to monitor a large class very regularly and then be accountable even though I have little say in what I teach and how I teach it, the constant pressure from SLT. I don’t know how much longer I can keep it up because the reality is that the kids I teach get the best of me and by the time I come home there is so little left. I get to work at 7, leave at 5 and work at least 2 hours each evening. It’s mentally and physically draining.

You need to get a job in a better school.

This type of behaviour would absolutely not be tolerated in my children's state school.

Not a teacher, but as a mother of four children I can’t thank teachers enough.
All state school educated, all average intelligence - all left school well rounded and well educated.

In their 20’s now and all doing well.

Thank you teachers. You do an amazing job, often under extremely difficult circumstances.

Absolutely! And enriching creative activities in school. But coaches cost £500+ per day for trips, and if you look at threads on here many parents don't want to/can't pay for these. And the schools cant fund them all. Plus parents are really overprotective - my daughters school has a fantastic, creative dynamic headteacher, who suggested an overnight trip for year 2 children (age 7). At least 60% of parents said 'absolutely not, my little darling absolutely couldn't cope without me for 24 hours'. Nonsense, girl guides and scouts take children away as young as 5 years old and they love it and thrive. But the number of parents who said no made it non viable

Schools are battling resistance, apathy and entitlement when trying to do their best

IMHO a good teacher is worth their weight in gold. I know I couldn't do what they do. I do one hour a week Brownies, love it but exhausted. 6 hours a day 5 days a week - they are superheroes