I'm so tired and sick of it all today... anyone else?

Chickenkorma64 · 31/01/2023 20:07

Sorry to hear you’re having an ongoing tough time. Are you looking for a way out? Can you afford to leave?

Chickenkorma64 · 31/01/2023 20:24

There’s a FB group called Life after teaching which might be worth a look

Original poster

ThrallsWife · 31/01/2023 20:38

I am leaving at Easter. Not leaving teaching, just a new role in a different place, hoping the grass will be greener - well, it can't be as full of the brown stuff as my current school.

But counting down the weeks and knowing there are still 2 months to go makes it feel like a lifetime when you know every day it gets a little worse. We had a bullying head and SLT being forced out, only to be replaced with more of the same. Lots of us going.

It's just a whinge, really. Nothing to be done but to wait.

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Postapocalypticcowgirl · 31/01/2023 20:56

ThrallsWife · 31/01/2023 18:55

Just that. I know I'll leave soon and take up a different position elsewhere, but fuck me, I'm tired today and beyond caring.

Arguments with kids, break duty which broke me (enforcing a stupid policy without support) on a full day, MAT meeting after work, seeing my colleagues similarly broken by a system which just doesn't work. A behaviour system which has anything but an actual system to follow.

I'm not striking tomorrow, because I can't, and my school have no plan for those who are staying behind. I'm just done with it all today. The worst thing was leaving while my HOD had yet another meeting and just looked so tired, too.

Any particular reason you can't strike?

If you are feeling this low, it may be reasonable to call in sick tomorrow without the stress of it being a strike day.

It sounds really stressful and I'm sorry.

Original poster

ThrallsWife · 31/01/2023 21:26

We cannot call in sick tomorrow. Not on a strike day, not without a medically certified reason, which the doctor won't do for something like this.

Plus, that wouldn't do any good. My colleagues are feeling similar, no one wants to be in at the moment, it's got that toxic. But the kids don't realise it's not us, we're just the frontline, there to take the abuse and get on with it with a smile (literally said to us like that, regardless of how we've been treated). They've had 5 years of instability and shit leadership; I don't blame them one bit; they are frustrated.

A parent called up today over an item I've had to confiscate and went onto a massive tirade as apparently a charm is missing on an expensive bracelet. Fuck knows, I haven't counted the 20-odd that will have been on there, but it's against policy, so we have to do our bit, and it got handed to the people in charge as soon as physically possile. Kid probably lost the charm while playing with it. I couldn't give a shit about uniform, but it's seen as so much more important to wear the right colour socks than it is to actually cease telling us to fuck off for being told to take one of 10 earrings out.

Anyway, I had a glass of wine and am now off to bed. Tomorrow is another day.

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Bronzeisthecolour · 31/01/2023 21:59

I sympathise. I've joined the fb group and looking at other jobs. Last week nearly broke me- lots of reasons but definitely struggling.

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 31/01/2023 22:50

ThrallsWife · 31/01/2023 21:26

We cannot call in sick tomorrow. Not on a strike day, not without a medically certified reason, which the doctor won't do for something like this.

Plus, that wouldn't do any good. My colleagues are feeling similar, no one wants to be in at the moment, it's got that toxic. But the kids don't realise it's not us, we're just the frontline, there to take the abuse and get on with it with a smile (literally said to us like that, regardless of how we've been treated). They've had 5 years of instability and shit leadership; I don't blame them one bit; they are frustrated.

A parent called up today over an item I've had to confiscate and went onto a massive tirade as apparently a charm is missing on an expensive bracelet. Fuck knows, I haven't counted the 20-odd that will have been on there, but it's against policy, so we have to do our bit, and it got handed to the people in charge as soon as physically possile. Kid probably lost the charm while playing with it. I couldn't give a shit about uniform, but it's seen as so much more important to wear the right colour socks than it is to actually cease telling us to fuck off for being told to take one of 10 earrings out.

Anyway, I had a glass of wine and am now off to bed. Tomorrow is another day.

Of course you can call in sick tomorrow? What if you woke up and threw up in the morning? Would they really expect you to get hold of a GP to medically certify you- the surgery would be within their rights to refuse AND presumably not available before school opens anyway?

I actually think, based on prior experiences, a GP would sign you off with stress. But if you don't want to go down that route, fair enough.

I get the way you feel, and the uniform stuff can be so petty and really wearing.

At least you are out of there soon.

jezlifecoach · 01/02/2023 00:14

Yep! Genuinely considered saying you know what, screw this, getting in my car and never returning today. Behaviour has been terrible. Already looking at other schools because this is not the first time I’ve been upset over awful behaviour.

Original poster

ThrallsWife · 01/02/2023 04:30

Of course you can call in sick tomorrow? What if you woke up and threw up in the morning? Would they really expect you to get hold of a GP to medically certify you- the surgery would be within their rights to refuse AND presumably not available before school opens anyway?

MAT orders. If we call in sick on a strike day, we need a doctor's certificate or face loss of pay and potential disciplinary action.

I have been signed off with stress before. I'd be worried my new job offer will be withdrawn to be honest; other colleagues have had jobs mysteriously disappear if they became too uncomfortable before they left.

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