I can't take it anymore

[wispywoo1]

I'm a secondary maths teacher and I'm really struggling at the minute. So much so that I want to hand my notice in and leave at easter.
I feel so guilty about leaving mid year but teaching consumes every evening, weekend and though I have. My lesson planning is suffering because of assessments, making, monitoring, meetings, parent phonecalls etc. There aren't enough hours in the day. I'm miserable and keep crying.
I've considered phoning in sick /seeing the doctor about stress but I feel like I can go on. I just hate it. I was observed this week and I think it will be another satisfactory. Another action plan. I just don't want to do this job. I'm worried that people will think bad if I leave mid year/bad reference.
I've seen a few jobs around. One is a a cover supervisor. Would I be mad to apply? I could make up extra pay through tutoring. Pay isn't a big concern for me. Happiness is. Anyone every felt like this but got over it? I've been teaching 3 yrs. This is the worst I've ever felt.

I'm primary.

Skatingfastonthinice
I take my hat off to you, and to all primary teachers! I have no idea how anyone survives with the insane primary workload

Go on supply and it's fine.
My decades of teaching experience are in my head and very portable. Faster to access than faffing around on the net as well.
I sleep for 7 hours a night without nightmares or teeth grinding or waking up at 3am hyperventilating, and I have enough energy to go out mid-week if I choose to.
Nothing like the relentless pressure of being a FT permanent class teacher.

I walked out of my teaching job after six weeks. I told the Head on the Friday that I would be back in on the Monday but then that would be it.
I had to; it was that or have a breakdown. I never regretted it. I have been in specialist adult ed for ten years now and I love it.

I'm not a teacher but was a trainer working with adults. Feel very sad that so many of you are so stressed with this job. I know I could never do it! OP I hope this thread has helped you, life's too short to be so miserable because of a job. You have great skills which will be very much in demand whatever you decide to do. I don't think you will regret leaving, go for it!

As someone who is avidly following this thread (I am due to go to the dr due to chest pains when thinking about work - not until after half term, mind you, I have too much to do before then...).

Is there a best way to get I to adult education? I'm primary trained... I love teaching, but have always fancied teaching to people who want to learn (though the reality is probably nothing like the dream!)

Sorry for the hijack.

it's not anything like as soul-destroying as knowing that . . . all observations and progress will be judged by your abilities and not take the class dynamics into account.

So sad that this is the way things have become. It used to be the case that teachers were judged 'in the olden days' on our knowledge of the subject and our ability to work with a group of students who could be very different to last year's. And students used to be able to celebrate real success rather than by simply meeting this year's targets. How/whyyyyyyy did we let it happen?

winterfire I work in Offender Learning. Find out which College holds the contract for Prison education in your area (I think Manchester College does, and Weston College does in the South West) and contact them direct.

Most of the teachers are specifically Adult Education trained, but IME coming from a school background has never been an issue (I think from classroom management perspectives it's an advantage; all my students are definitely NOT always as keen to learn as you may think!)

There is an adult learning certificate you can do. I did an NVQ in Learning and Development back in the 90s. I've worked with unemployed people, volunteers, staff members, police officers and other groups. Volunteers were the best as they actually wanted to be there. Training adults who don't want to be on your course is very hard and they seem to revert back to a teenage state and sometimes try to sabotage your course. You have to be very patient and polite with those people even if inside you are thinking, tosser!

One example, I was teaching a group of police officers and we were doing a session on oppression in society. ( this was over ten years ago). I asked the question, what groups do you think are oppressed in society? One brith spark piped up, 'fox hunters' and then someone else said, 'white men'. Boy, did I have to hold my tongue...!

*brith? Bright!

' How/whyyyyyyy did we let it happen?'

We didn't, we were the victims of it being imposed upon us and with increasingly heavy sanctions if we didn't comply. The NUT supported our objections, but we have no power at all. All we can do is withdraw our labour, turn to alternative jobs and leave in droves.
So put the blame where it belongs please.