to feel quite shocked that DH has PTSD from teaching?

[FunnysInLaJardin]

Its feels pretty awful tbh. He has just today received this diagnosis and has been referred for priority EMDR.

He has taught for 25 years in a secondary school, and got out last year due to clinically diagnosed burn out.

I knew it was bad, but I never realised it was this bad.

How can this be allowed to happen?

School standards in Scotland are the lowest in the UK and low down in PISA international tables. Scotland is a prime example of how left wing ideology has trumped educational needs. It is absolutely NOT about money. It’s about the culture of the school which comes from the top. Research Katharine Birbalsingh. Brilliant Headteacher and Educator.

I think you can't have been paying attention if you think that the Michaela-type approach to behaviour management has been ignored and Birbalsingh sidelined.

Her main problem is that she behaves like a complete twat on social media.

I left HE teaching about 5 years ago and it probably took me 2/3 years to reset my mental health.

I’m not being rude but your entire post is part of the problem and you can’t see it

I'm really glad that's happened for you and I've also been really lucky and managed to end up on a better salary than teaching after 5 years out of the classroom, but it doesn't fall into place like that for everyone.

Most teachers that I know (myself and DH includes) had to take a significant pay-cut at first and make massive lifestyle changes to accommodate that, such as moving to the other end of the country to find affordable housing. Some of us are building our salaries back up and others have "settled" for a different sort of life, but whether that's possible depends on a lot of factors.

The knock your confidence takes after years in teaching can make it really hard to apply for roles and to sell yourself at interview.

A pal of mine who used to work in a young offenders institution quit teaching in Feb, (she was training in history, so not even a core subject). She said that the behaviour of the kids was a million times worse than that of the kids in YO and that the majority of them would be arrested - that’s what she found tough. No one in their right mind would go into teaching nowadays. Unless it’s a public, private or excellent grammar school.

Your post indicates you are very much part of the problem. I am serious. Yes she is outspoken on Twitter but do you know how she had been treated? Research it. She started as a member of the Socialist Workers Party at Oxford and when she had been in teaching a bit realised that the problem was actually LEFT WING IDEOLOGY. She is not perfect. She is sitting and working in plain sight WITH the answers!! She HAS walked the walk and most educationalists ignore and mock her!!!! She has the answers!

Most private schools are awful to teach in - lower salaries, worse T&C's, massive staff turnover (I've seen my local private school advertise the same comp sci post three times in two years). The behaviour of the kids also isn't much better (big drug issues for example).

Teaching, no matter where in the UK, is just a shit job full stop.

I'm not part of the problem, thanks. I am well aware of her, her methods and her results.

And she is undeniably a twat on social media.

If "the answer" is turning schools into military style prisons, then yes. You can certainly force information and create order into children by punishing them for minor infractions and treating them like robots to be programmed into obedience.

Most of us became teachers because we liked children and wanted to build positive relationships with them, not crush their wills and make them as compliant as possible.

If we'd wanted to work in a young offenders institute, we would have done.

My SD told us last time we saw her about how they are now searched with metal detectors on the way into school, to ensure they've put their phones in magnetic sealed pouches on entry. Not for any specific reason, there's been no metal or phone related incidents in school, just to remind them who's boss and increase the prison-like feel I guess. She loved the school when she started in Y7, before they adopted the Birbalsingh method. Now she can't wait to leave.

And then we wonder why so many children, already anxious and struggling socially since Covid, are refusing to go to school to be treated like criminals.

Absolutely this,and my DH's experience too.

I got ptsd from going to school.

Yes the prison camp. Method has taken hold locally as it sounds great to those in power who don't have to use them. It also is cheaper if everyone is preaching from the same script literally.

Whilst brilliant for those who fit the mold and do well, for a significant minority they are hell. They take the joy and love out of teaching and learning. Not fine in School contributor Dr Naomi Fisher regularly posts about this, and is an advocate for the many children who cannot cope under this regime.

Me too. I keep being drawn to this thread as I'm in the thick of it now and have compeltely screwed up our families earning potential at a time when they'd like driving lessons etc and when friends are beginning to settle in their careers and wfh/take it easier. I've grafted for so long and not sure I can graft again. Whatever I do fails myself or my children.

Sorry your DH is going through this. I left teaching 18 months ago after more than 30 years and am now working in a different sector. I still have dreams about how bad it was, and nothing on earth would make me go back. I hope he can recover now he is out.

you can’t be forced to work your notice- the courts consider its basically against public policy. Even if they did sue you (would never happen for that type of role) they damages are basically your wages - so if you refuse to work your notice they won’t pay you. The reference thing is obviously an issue if you’re going to another teaching job but if you’re not, just ignore them.

You are correct in the law changing which led to a softer parenting approach which has led to what is happening now. It wasn't only that though as you well know. I was lucky, a look was enough as it was for a vast majority of kids - nowadays and 20 years at least before now - a child didn't even get that look as deemed not so called soft parenting. No boundaries were ever set from a young age. How exactly are they supposed to know from a young age what is correct behaviour. A majority learn it now they think from their phones. It is so sad to see so many young people rudderless with no respect for anyone all down to lack of decent parenting. It isn't the fault of the schools - it is the fault of the parents initially. I fail to understand why exactly parents no longer stand by the Teachers of their kids.

Even non-teaching roles ask for references.

I finally left teaching when I got told off for diciplining unruly kids! Management took the kids' side. Kids were bullying colleague...i bollocked them. I still don't regret bollocking them to this day!

Reading everyone's comments and feeling so sad for teachers. It sounds like an utter nightmare. Praying things will change.

I'm also wondering seriously whether to think about home schooling my son who is meant to start secondary in two weeks. He is quiet and gentle and has cerebral palsy, I'm terrified for his mental health (and physical safety) in secondary. Feels like all year sevens are being sent off to hell!

Actually yeah, the nightmares about having to go back to teaching are only occasional now, but for the first year or two after I left they were very frequent and I had panic attacks, even though I was in a much better environment.

I'm very sadly not surprised. Bless him, my poor late dad worked for 27 years in a tough, inner city school. It aged him. It took its toll on our family life. The best thing he ever did was get out before it killed him.

It's just so stressful and relentless.

My dh is a deputy head. He's aged quicker than Tony Blair did in Downing Street.

The government and society in general need to stop taking out their grievances on teachers, most of whom went into it with young, altruistic ideas and ended up burnt out by a system that took advantage of that.

It breaks my heart.

DD left her QTS / PGCE training due to being bullied at the primary school placement. Her uni tutor (Bath Spa) did nothing to help the situation so she just left after six weeks of phoning us sobbing each evening. She would have made a great teacher IMHO.

So sorry for your daughter, that's awful.

yep. Society is fucking shit. I’m a nurse and I have ptsd from nursing. Doctors leaving for the same reason. Other areas who deal with the general public will probably be the same
parents not taking responsibility for actions of their child due to ‘adhd’ doesn’t always mean the parent cannot parent.
have you not noticed the growing trend of everyone else/society/government fault for failings to an individual not the parents
I hope your DH gets the help he needs