Teachers : what's the worst thing about the job now?

[Floursacktabletop]

I've name changed , but been here many years and teaching for 22 years.
Dreading going back on Monday. For me , the worst bit is the increasingly poor behaviour of students and the continual parental complaints and allegations.
Anyone else dreading it and fancy a solidarity thread?

Don’t worry I think she was having a pop at me.

It's exhausting. Nothing we ever do is good enough - someone always wants the exact opposite thing!

Justonemorecoffeeplease and MrsHamlet

I quite like how the pupil was given a place on an access course as if the child was randomly pulled out of a hat or had enough relevant information to get on the course with absolutely no teacher intervention at all.

Its an examtide miracle I tells ya

I’ve discussed this elsewhere. This is a widespread genuine problem. Being a bit worried about high stakes thing is normal and often helpful (it means you care). Anxiety is something else entirely. I’ve been medicated for it. It’s awful and nothing like feeling a bit anxious or not liking doing something.
The same is true for feeling a bit down v being clinically depressed (again I’ve been experienced both - very different). It would be helpful if we had different words for clinical issues and normal emotions. In fact, I’m having a conversation tomorrow with my year 11 about anxiety v being a bit anxious.

The things most teachers object to is in reality the being asked to do a range of often conflicting things which can only help in the short term (avoid asking questions) whilst realising that there’s no support to improve the situation. It’s like putting a small plaster on a gaping wound. It actually makes things worse.

She wasn’t ’randomly given a place’

She applied and went. Her burnout got better once she got away from someone who repeatedly kept asking her questions despite her mutism.

They just took it on board at college with no issues. She has an EHCP which states all her issues.

Great that you have such an understanding of ASD in girls👌

I know, l taught secondary for 25 years.

Not sure why you are still quoting me as I’ve quite clearly written that I understand the difference between mutism and being a little anxious about speaking in class. I’m not talking about EHCP students but those who tend to grab on to a label, often quite incorrectly, and see it as an escape route from everyday classroom interactions.

Anyway I’m obviously a ‘twat’.

I’m glad your daughter has overcome her struggles and here’s to her next chapter.

The number of parents that want to pull their kids out of stuff at the moment is shocking. In secondary I have parents who want their kids to drop GCSE subjects left right and centre because they’re finding it hard or they don’t like the teacher or best ones yet - it’s on a Monday morning and they’re always tired then so can they come in after the lesson and they don’t have many friends in the class so can they just go sit in the library for those lessons instead. I have wtf moments on a daily basis.

You may want to read it again, I did not say that she was randomly given a place.
I said its "as if she was",

As a teacher of 25 yrs, I would have hoped that your reading and comprehension skills would be better.

A classic one from Friday- KS3 are being re-setted, now I have 3 new students in my class of 29 (no-ones been taken away from the class, so I also need a new room as I don't have enough chairs).

New student 1: ADHD identified, we are applying for an EHCP, please seat alone at the back of the class. They shout out a lot in class, and have been given a fidget toy to try to prevent them from stealing items from other children's pencil cases and pockets during lessons.

New student 2: ASC, please seat alone at the back of the class. They need a very quiet space.

New student 3: This is a pastoral move, they can't remain in their current class due to social issues with other students and a fight before half term. Please seat them at the back on their own or they are likely to walk out.

Well this is going to be interesting- especially as I only have 2 seats at the back and they're next to each other (my new room is long and thin).

I might create a school based board game called: The Ideal Seating Plan

Followed by the sequel "guess the reasonable uniform adjustment while adhering to school policy at all times".

Along with guess whether today we're maintaining high standards/expectations or responding to children's needs (when you're trying to do both at the same time).

Because, even when you're doing both, you can guarantee it's not what they wanted to see when they stuck their head round your door for 30 seconds.

Was this lesson full of fun and tranquility?😂

My department head was told she shouldn't have spoken to a student about her false lashes because the last time someone did, said student refused to come to school for 2 months. Obv no one told staff after the first incident

Sounds about right. I'm sick of the "why do they get to wear jumpers and we don't" argument.

And of playing the guessing game of whether that specific type of shoe is allowed when the rules change every week, then having to tell students off for the smallest bit of black canvas on their perfectly fine shoes in the vicinity of Lacie who wears bright orange trainers to school every day.

Absolutely and the twist in the game is there is no correct answer and everyone loses! The teacher who tears their hair out last will be deemed the winner and poured a large glass of wine.

I’m pretty good at behaviour management and building positive relationships with tricky teenagers, but I agree it’s got worse. Sometimes there is nothing you can do and school no longer seem willing to have strict behaviour management policies that they are willing to use. However the thing that has ruled me most in the last 5 years has been political activism infiltrating schools. Things like secretly gender transitioning children without parental knowledge and teaching children to engage in virtue signalling. It’s deeply harmful.

*riled

MATs need to follow NHS England down the chute into Room 101. They involve taking vast sums of Education funding away from children and the schools and teachers who actually teach them.

100%. Too many CEOs on well in excess of 100k for doing naff all when TAs are getting punched for twelve grand a year.

This comment takes me by surprise. I've taught for 16 years (not as long as some I grant you, but a decent amount of time to watch for changes in the system), and I can't say I'm seeing much of this. I'm in a big secondary comp (over 2000 students), and we've had a handful of students exploring their gender identity and looking at transition with their pronouns and/or uniform. I've found it to be one of those issues that the Daily Mail likes to make out is bigger than it is tbh. We have had 1 student who asked us to use their gender neutral name at school and they/them pronouns, their parents weren't supportive and wouldn't use that name/pronoun at home, however agreed it could be used in school as long as official documentation carried their birth name.
Has it come up a lot in your experience? if so, do you mind telling us a bit about your school setting?
Also, could you clarify what you mean about the virtue signalling? I know what it means but I'm not sure how it would be taught in a school context?
Genuinely curious- no hate mean at all :)

Just wanted to acknowledge your 'biscuits' comment 😂😂👏👏🍪🍪

Unpaid